The training instructor's Piper Warrior at Caernarfon Airport

An instructor was taking a training flight in fine weather from Caernarfon Airport over Newborough Forest on Anglesey when the incident happened last May.

The pilot said he kept a good lookout but suddenly realised there was a second aircraft, an identical Piper Warrior, flying just five metres away.

The report said the instructor then carried out an emergency turn to avoid a crash at between 1,500 and 2,000 feet.

'Dangerously close'

The pilot later described the near-miss as "very severe" and the CAA concluded it had been "dangerously close."

It went on to state that it, "left most wondering whether the late turning actions taken by both pilots had been effective in preventing collision or if they had missed more by chance."

The second plane, with just one pilot on board, was flying into Caernarfon Airport from Ireland.

A view of Newborough Forest in Anglesey from Caernarfon Airport

The report stated that he was unfamiliar with the airfield and told investigators that the incident "worried him" and he undertook refresher training within days of the near-miss.

In conclusion, the CAA's air proximity board concluded that the pilot of the second plane had made a misleading radio call about his position.

Board members agreed that the incident fell under the highest category of risk and said the cause of the near-miss was due to, "extremely late sightings by both pilots."

Both aircraft landed safely at Caernarfon Airport.

Roy Steptoe, the airfield's manager, agreed the actions of the training pilot, who has since left the airport, had helped avert a collision in what he described as an "uncommon" incident.

"The pilots were in an open flight information region in free airspace where you are responsible for yourself."