What happened
On July 9, 2014, during military selection training at Radom-Piastów airport, two aircraft collided in the vicinity of Jedlińsk. The first aircraft, a Cessna 152 with registration SP-KGK, was performing a standard left-hand traffic pattern at approximately 1,000 feet AGL. While executing its second turn at an altitude between 800 and 900 feet AGL, the aircraft collided with a second aircraft, a Reims-Cessna F152 registered as SP-APL, which was returning to the traffic pattern after completing a mission in a nearby zone.
Following the impact, the Cessna 152 entered a spin. The instructor managed to recover the aircraft at approximately 150 feet AGL before performing an emergency landing in a field near Wola Gutowska, which resulted in a nose-over. The instructor and student survived the landing without injury.
The Reims-Cessna F152 suffered severe structural damage, losing a portion of its rear fuselage and part of its horizontal stabilizer. The aircraft entered a vertical dive and struck the surface of a fish pond. The instructor and student aboard the SP-APL sustained fatal injuries.
The investigation
The PKBWL investigation examined the flight history, aircraft maintenance records, and meteorological conditions. The investigation established that both aircraft were airworthy and properly prepared for flight, with weights and centers of gravity within limits. The investigation also reviewed radio communications between the flight supervisor and the crews, noting that while radio contact was functional, the crew of the SP-KGK was preoccupied with flight tasks and did not notice the specific instructions being relayed to the SP-APL crew.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the failure of the crew of SP-APL to effectively monitor the airspace while merging into the traffic pattern.
- The Cessna 152 was flying at an altitude below the established 1,000-foot traffic pattern level.
- The high-wing configuration of the Cessna 152 limited the crew's upward and forward visibility during the turn.
- The Reims-Cessna F152 was entering the pattern at an altitude lower than the established pattern height.
- The anti-collision light on SP-KGK was likely not activated.
- Sunlight direction at the time of the event may have hindered the crew of SP-APL from observing other traffic on the pattern.