Two planes collide in mid-air crash at Dallas Executive Airport

[EDS_]

Originally Posted by apple44

Forgive my ignorance -- but it seems to me that the sky is very big and wide, not like roads on the ground with just a few lanes. Why would two small planes (compared to the big sky) collide in the sky? So much space out there, no?

Leaving as much jargon out as possible.


Both planes were taking part in an exhibition, normal FAA distance rules are waived or at least not enforced.


More generally, mid-air collisions tend to happen very near airports, especially uncontrolled airports, as planes are in effect jockeying for limited airspace/approach paths without extra eyes on the ground.

[Ralph_Kirk]

Originally Posted by apple44

Forgive my ignorance -- but it seems to me that the sky is very big and wide, not like roads on the ground with just a few lanes. Why would two small planes (compared to the big sky) collide in the sky? So much space out there, no?

As aircraft funnel into the controlled area of an air terminal and into the space of a runway landing pattern, there pretty much are only a few lanes they can travel.

In this case, they weren't landing, but they had a relatively small area that was considered optimum in view of the audience.