What happened
On February 1, 2015, a runway incursion occurred at Warsaw Chopin Airport (EPWA) involving a maintenance vehicle and a De Havilland Canada DHC-8 Dash 8, registration SP-EQH.
An airport maintenance vehicle operator requested permission from the tower to occupy the threshold of runway 15 to clear debris. While the tower controller initially denied the request due to an arriving aircraft on runway 33, permission was subsequently granted once the runway was clear. However, the vehicle operator failed to properly confirm the instruction and mistakenly navigated to the stopway of runway 11 instead of runway 15.
During the takeoff roll of the SP-EQH on runway 29, tower personnel observed the vehicle near the runway 11 stopway. Upon questioning the operator via radio, the driver initially believed they were at the correct location (runway 15) before realizing they had entered the active runway area. The controller immediately ordered the vehicle to vacate the maneuvering area.
The investigation
The PKBWL investigation examined radio communications, radar imagery, and the airport's infrastructure. Radar analysis confirmed the movement of an unidentified echo from a fire road toward the runway 11 threshold during the takeoff phase of the aircraft. The investigation also noted that the airport lacked an Advanced Surface Movement Guidance and Control System (A-SMGCS) or any other automated system to monitor the movement of aircraft and vehicles within the maneuvering area.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was the vehicle operator's error, which resulted in the occupation of the incorrect runway stopway during an aircraft takeoff operation.
- The vehicle operator demonstrated a lack of familiarity with the airport topography and used incorrect radio phraseology.
- The airport lacked an automated surveillance system (A-SMGCS) to assist controllers in maintaining situational awareness regarding ground movements.
- The maintenance vehicle entered the stopway of runway 11 while the De Havilland Canada DHC-8 Dash 8 was performing its takeoff roll on runway 29.