Jaguar GR.1A XZ108 damaged in the air, landed at Leeming airfield.

On Tuesday, 9th January 1990 this 54 Squadron aircraft took off from Coltishall, Norfolk with the pilot detailed to fly at No.2 in formation on a low level cross country flight. The route they were due to fly was from Norfolk north to Newcastle, then to the Scottish Borders and to then return to base. Having reached the Consett area heading north this aircraft overflew a reservoir. After the pilot then checked navigational data and corrected a system error he looked forward to immediately see an aircraft passing very close down his left side. The port wing tip of the Jaguar hit the fin of Tornado ZA394 in the Hexham area. The Jaguar lost around two feet of the wingtip, it also sustained damage to a further five feet of the wing and suffered a fuel leak. The pilot regained control and was able to divert, with another of the Jaguars escorting him, to land at Leeming airfield flying on the starboard engine. The pilot has given an interview that mentions this incident that is on YouTube.

No.2 Squadron Tornado ZA394 was flying a low level flight from Suffolk, to Southern Scotland, via Newcastle and then back to its base at Laarbruch, Germany. It was flying roughly head on to the Jaguar at the time of the collision. Having no fin the crew of Tornado ZA394 immediately lost control so they ejected. The Tornado subsequently crashed near on the A68 near Styford Bridge, at Riding Mill and its crew sustained broken legs.

The investigation that followed found that while the weather was clear and fine there was a low winter sun, combined with closing speeds, both aircraft being painted in camouflage, both flying below the horizon of the other and both having dark woodland backgrounds behind them there was little chance either pilot could have seen the other aircraft for around ten seconds prior to the collision occurring.

Pilot - W/Co David Martin Jones RAF (608862).