HC Deb 16 December 1980 vol 996 cc95-6W
Mr. Colvin

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what was the date of the report to his Department of the accident involving a Boeing 707 at Lulsgate airport on 11 October 1979; when his Department's inquiry into the accident commenced; and when he expects the resulting report to be complete.

Mr. Tebbit

The accidents investigation branch was notified of the accident by air traffic control at Lulsgate a few hours after it occurred and field inquiries were commenced the following morning. On the basis of the facts established the chief inspector of accidents decided not to order an inspector's investigation to be carried out.

An AIB bulletin containing a summary of the facts relating to the accident was published in January 1980. It is not intended to produce a formal report on this accident.

Mr. Colvin

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he is satisfied that his Department is in possession of all the necessary information, including tape recordings of air traffic control messages, required for the completion of its inquiry into the accident involving a Boeing 707 aircraft at Lulsgate airport on 11 October 1979.

Mr. Tebbit

This accident is not the subject of an inspector's investigation, though inquiries in the field were carried out by the accidents investigation branch. I am satisfied that all the necessary information, including tape recordings of air traffic control messages, was obtained sufficient to enable the AIB to complete its inquiries. An AIB bulletin was published in January 1980 and contained a summary of the factual information relating to the accident. It is not intended to raise a formal report on this accident.

Mr. Colvin

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether, in the light of the report made to him by his inspectors, he is satisfied with the ground and air traffic control procedures at Lulsgate airport throughout the time that the airport was responsible for the Boeing 707, which then become involved in an accident at the airport on 11 October.

Mr. Tebbit

The field inquiries conducted by the accidents investigation branch have brought to light no evidence of improper procedures or mishandling on the part of the airport officials or air traffic control at Lulsgate.

Mr. Colvin

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what was the registration number of the Boeing 707 aircraft involved in an accident at Lulsgate airport on 11 October 1979; if the number provided was authentic; what was the identity of the owner and operator; whether the pilot was qualified to fly that aircraft type; and if, pending publication of the report by his Department, he will make a statement.

Mr. Tebbit

At the time of the accident the aircraft carried the Zaire registration markings 9Q-CRY. Inquiries of the Zaire authorities through our embassy in Kinshasa established that no aircraft with that registration was known in Zaire.

A Swiss organisation by the name of Air Union Aktiengesellshaft has indicated that it was the owner of the aircraft, but it has not been established who was the operator. The question as to the pilot's qualifications to fly the aircraft is still the subject of investigation by the CAA.

Since there will be no formal report on this accident, I do not intend to make any statement about it.