Aviation Glossary - Mid-air Collision

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Mid-air Collision

A mid-air collision is an aviation accident in which two or more aircraft come into contact during flight. Owing to the relatively high velocities involved and any subsequent impact on the ground or sea, very severe damage or the total destruction of at least one of the aircraft involved usually results.

The potential for a mid-air collision is increased by miscommunication, mistrust, error in navigation, deviations from flight plans, and the lack of collision-avoidance systems. Although a rare occurrence due to the vastness of open space available, collisions often happen near or at airports, where large volume of aircraft and closer spacing compared to general flight is present.

source: FAA Airplane Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-3A)

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