Incident Overview
On June 16, 2015, an incident occurred in the Terminal Control Area (TMA) of EPLK airport involving an ultralight aircraft and two military jets. The aircraft involved were a Pipistrel Virus 912 ultralight and two F-16 fighters.
Aircraft and Personnel
The ultralight was piloted by a single pilot, while each F-16 had a pilot on board. The military aircraft were conducting flights in the TMA when the ultralight entered the controlled airspace.
Circumstances
According to information provided by the military air traffic control service, the ultralight pilot did not coordinate entry conditions into the controlled area of EPLK airport with the approach controller (APP EPLK). The controller reported that the ultralight was present in the TMA during the F-16 flights without prior clearance.
Probable Cause
The investigation identified the probable cause of the incident as the ultralight pilot's inadequate preparation for the flight, specifically regarding knowledge of active airspace elements along the planned route, and the lack of air traffic control clearance to enter the EPLK TMA.
Investigation Outcome
The investigation was conducted by the aircraft operator under the supervision of Robert Ochwat. No safety recommendations were issued by the State Commission on Aircraft Accident Investigation (PKBWL) upon conclusion of the inquiry.