BEECH 400 near Midland, TX — 2011-04-13

Probable cause

Inadequate planning and control instructions issued to the pilots involved by the trainee controller operating the local control position and inadequate supervision by the instructor responsible for the position.

NTSB narrative

An air traffic control operational error and near midair collision occurred in Class C airspace when the second aircraft in a flight of two T-1 Jayhawk U.S. Air Force training airplanes (civilian-type Beech BE40 turbojets) lost separation with a Raytheon-Beech King Air 300 on final approach. Both airplanes were receiving air traffic control services from an instructor and trainee controller. Postincident investigation revealed that the trainee controller failed to issue control instructions necessary to properly sequence the second T-1 airplane and the King Air. The trainee's instructor did not intervene to resolve the conflict and the pilot of the King Air discontinued the approach to avoid the T-1 ahead.

NTSB coding

• Near midair/TCAS alert/loss of separation · Approach-VFR pattern base
• Near midair/TCAS alert/loss of separation · Approach-VFR pattern final