Amateur-built RV6 and Diamond DA40 mid-air collision near Shoreham, Gb, July 4, 2011
On July 4, 2011 at about 3:28 pm local time, 2 aircraft, amateur-built RV6 (GRVGC) and Diamond DA40 (GCEZR), were involved in a mid-air collision near Shoreham. 1 person was killed; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 4, 2011 · about 3:28 pm local time
- Place
- Shoreham, United Kingdom · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Amateur-built RV6 A
- Registration
- GRVGC · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · non-U.S. private rules
- Aircraft 2
- Diamond DA40 D
- Registration
- GCEZR · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · non-U.S. private rules
The NTSB's narrative for the amateur-built RV6 preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On July 4, 2011, at 1528 Universal Coordinated Time (UTC), a Vans RV-6A single-engine airplane, G-RVCG, and a Diamond DA-40 single-engine airplane, G-CEZR, collided in midair while maneuvering near Shoreham, West Sussex, United Kingdom. G-RVGC was destroyed and G-CEZR sustained substantial damage. The pilot of G-RVCG was fatally injured and the two occupants of G-CEZR were not injured. The two local flights departed Shoreham, West Sussex, United Kingdom, at an unknown time. The accident is being investigated by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB), United Kingdom.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The NTSB's narrative for the Diamond DA40 preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On July 4, 2011, at 1528 Universal Coordinated Time (UTC), a Vans RV-6A single-engine airplane, G-RVCG, and a Diamond DA-40 single-engine airplane, G-CEZR, collided in midair while maneuvering near Shoreham, West Sussex, United Kingdom. G-RVGC was destroyed and G-CEZR sustained substantial damage. The pilot of G-RVCG was fatally injured and the two occupants of G-CEZR were not injured. The two local flights departed Shoreham, West Sussex, United Kingdom, at an unknown time. The accident is being investigated by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB), United Kingdom.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record for the amateur-built RV6 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Midair collision during maneuvering defining event
Pilot
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: unk
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Landing gear: fixed
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Shoreham
- Destination: Shoreham
- Flight plan: not recorded
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 3:20 pm from EGKA
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Diamond DA40 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Midair collision during maneuvering defining event
Crew member
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Landing gear: fixed
- Operator: Flying Time Ltd
The flight
- Departed from: Shoreham
- Destination: Shoreham
- Flight plan: not recorded
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.