February 20, 2012--Rio Vista, CA--A midair collision on Sunday miraculously resulted in no serious injuries for either pilot, although significant damage to one of the craft was reported.

A Beechcraft Bonanza airplane piloted by an unidentified individual collided with a Robinson R22 helicopter near Solano County Airport on Sunday evening. Fortunately, the airplane was able to make an emergency landing at the Byron Airport in Contra Costa County and no injuries were reported for the pilot. It is unclear if any passengers were in the airplane at the time of the crash.

The helicopter crashed eight miles south of the airport, but the pilot was uninjured and refused medical services, according to FAA spokesperson Ian Gregor. Apparently the unidentified pilot was the sole occupant of the helicopter, as no passenger injuries were reported.

Both the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board have stated that they will be investigating the accident.

I want to extend my heartfelt congratulations to both pilots on escaping what could have been a very serious, or even deadly, accident without injury.

Accident Statistics

A recent AOPA study found that 49 percent occurred on approach to or departure from an airport, and 26 percent occurred during climb, cruise, or descent activities. Eighty percent of mid-air collisions occurred within ten miles of an airport, and 78 percent occurred at airports without towers.

Surprisingly, most collisions do not occur at night. Instead, the single largest contributing factor to mid-air collisions is the "blind spot," similar to a blind spot experienced by large truck drivers relying on mirrors to avoid sideswiping smaller vehicles. In the case of aircraft, blind spots tend to be above and beneath the aircraft. Ironically, night flying may be safer because pilots cannot rely on sight and must use instruments for all activities.

What Happened In This Accident

While the investigation is still ongoing into the crash, it is obvious that the two aircraft collided and that one of the pilots must be at fault for the crash. What is unclear is exactly which pilot is at fault and why. It is very possible that the pilot’s instruments malfunctioned, that the pilot misjudged distance, or even that the pilot simply did not see the other aircraft.

Liability Issues

An expert personal injury attorney should study the reports of the crash to determine liability for the property damage and any future bodily injury that becomes apparent. Although both pilots were reported as being unhurt, it is quite possible that medical injuries could become apparent in the next few days or weeks. Often, victims of accidents do not "feel" hurt and refuse medical treatment, only to discover that they are, indeed, injured and need long-term rehabilitation or other care.