Panavia Tornado GR1 ZA330 crew 1999 - St Nicholas - Cottesmore, Rutland - Specific Veteran Memorials on Waymarking.com

Memorial plaque to the crew of Panavia Tornado GR1 ZA330 who lost their lives in a mid-air crash near Mattersey, Bassettlaw, Notts., 21 Jan 1999.

The inscription reads:
TO THE MEMORY OF
[Names]
of
TTTE RAF Cottesmore
who lost their lives 21st January 1999
We Will Remember Them

Names on memorial:
Flt. Lt. Greg Hurst
S. Ten. Matteo Di Carlo

"Date: 21-JAN-1999
Time: 11:33 UTC
Type: Panavia Tornado GR1
Owner/operator: RAF Tri-National Tornado Training Establishment (TTT
Registration: ZA330
C/n / msn: BT007/3012
Fatalities: Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2
Other fatalities: 2
Aircraft damage: Written off (damaged beyond repair)
Category: Accident
Location: near Mattersey, Bassettlaw, Nottinghamshire - United Kingdom
Phase: Initial climb
Nature: Military
Departure airport: RAF Cottesmore, Rutland, Leicestershire (EGXJ)
Destination airport: RAF Cottesmore, Rutland, Leicestershire (EGXJ)
Investigating agency: AAIB
Narrative:
Destroyed 21-1-1999 in a Mid-air collision between Cessna G-BPZX and RAF Tornado ZA330. The Tornado collided with the Cessna from behind at 500 feet near Mattersey, Bassettlaw, Nottinghamshire. The Cessna had two occupants on board and was photographing properties in the area. The Tornado was outbound from RAF Cottesmore with an Italian pilot and an RAF instructor on board. All four occupants were killed when the aircraft collided although one seat was ejected from the Tornado but this was as a result of the collision and was not initiated by the crew.

A contemporary BBC report (visit link) named the four fatalities as "James Robinson and his passenger, Richard Bowskill, were killed in the crash, along with two men in the Tornado, instructor Flight Lieutenant Greg Hurst, 35, and student pilot Matteo Di Carlo, 25, of the Italian Air Force". The Mod Board of Inquiry, along with the AAIB report, note that G-BPZX crashed very close to the point of collision impact, 300 yards west of the village of Mattersey, Nottinghamshire (at approximate Coordinates: 53°24'N 0°58'W) but that such was the speed and force of the collision, that the Tornado carried on in flight for a further 3 km, and came down near Everton, Nottinghamshire (approximately 11 miles from Doncaster, South Yorkshire).

Although one seat was ejected from the Tornado but this was as a result of the collision and was not initiated by the crew. This was the last conversion course before the closure of the Tri-National Tornado Training Establishment."

SOURCE - (visit link)

Link to MOD accident summary - (visit link)

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