What happened
On June 22, 2016, at 08:35 UTC, a Zlin 143 departed from EPDE for a scheduled IFR training flight. The aircraft was operated by a student pilot accompanied by an instructor. After departing the local maneuvering area (MATZ), the crew established contact with Warszawa Informacja and subsequently with Warszawa APP.
During the climb, the aircraft crossed the lower boundary of the Warsaw TMA near the XIMBA waypoint at an altitude of 3,500 ft. This entry into controlled airspace occurred without obtaining the necessary prior clearance from Warszawa APP. Following the unauthorized entry, air traffic controllers issued a revised flight path, which the crew followed to complete the flight. The aircraft subsequently landed safely at EPSY.
The investigation
The investigation examined the sequence of communications and the cockpit environment during the climb phase. The inquiry focused on the timing of radio contact with Warsaw Approach and the crew's adherence to airspace entry procedures.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was the failure to follow established procedures regarding timely communication with Warszawa APP.
- The delay in establishing contact was attributed to the instructor providing instructional feedback to the student pilot during the flight, which distracted from necessary radio telephony duties.