What happened
On May 16, 2016, various flight operations were underway at the Rudniki airfield (EPRU), including glider launches using both winch and aircraft towing methods, as well as general aircraft flights. Due to a light southern wind with an easterly drift, departures were being conducted from runway 08, utilizing both the concrete and grass surfaces.
At the threshold of the concrete runway 08, a Dynam aircraft was preparing to begin a takeoff sequence to tow a Swift glider. Approximately 30 minutes after flight operations had commenced, a Piper Mirage, registration SP-NPA, departed from the opposite end of the airfield on runway 26. The pilot of the Piper Mirage failed to establish radio contact with the takeoff controller and did not verify the current takeoff configuration or active runway direction. Because the runway 08/26 features a central bulge, visibility of the entire runway length from either threshold is obstructed. During the sequence of events, a collision occurred involving the aircraft, leading to one fatality.
The investigation
The PKBWL investigation focused on the communication protocols and the operational awareness of the pilot involved in the collision. The investigation examined the airfield's physical layout, specifically noting that the curvature of the runway prevents a clear line of sight from one end to the other. The investigators established that the pilot of the Piper Mirage initiated a departure without confirming the active runway or the presence of other aircraft preparing for takeoff at the opposite end of the strip.
Findings
- The pilot of the Piper Mirage failed to familiarize themselves with the current flight organization and active runway usage at the airfield.
- The pilot initiated takeoff operations from a runway direction where another flight team was simultaneously preparing for departure at the opposite threshold.