What happened
On July 16, 2016, a pilot conducting a training cross-country flight departed from Mielec Airport (EPML) in a Cessna 152. The flight plan required the aircraft to transit through the Katowice CTR. Upon reaching point W, the departure point from the Katowice CTR, the crew successfully established communication with FIS Kraków.
The intended flight path from point W was toward a heading of approximately 85°, exiting the controlled airspace. However, the pilot allowed a lateral deviation from the assigned track to persist without correction. Radar data indicated that the aircraft turned to a heading of approximately 110°, resulting in a re-entry into the controlled airspace. During this period, the aircraft climbed to 2,300 ft, exceeding the previously authorized altitude of 2,000 ft.
During the deviation, the aircraft failed to establish contact with FIS. Attempts by the Tower controller and calls on the 121.500 MHz emergency frequency were unsuccessful. The aircraft eventually corrected its course and exited the Katowice CTR at 17:00 UTC, but continued to infringe upon the Kraków LTMA. The incident, which occurred around 16:50 UTC, caused a five-minute delay for an arriving Airbus A320.
The investigation
The investigation examined the pilot's flight parameters, the aircraft's navigation, and the communication failures during the event. The investigation established that the pilot held a valid SEP(L) license and medical certification, with 82 total hours on the Cessna 152 type.
Findings
- The pilot failed to maintain the assigned course after departing point W, leading to the lateral deviation and subsequent re-entry into the Katowice CTR.
- The pilot maintained an altitude higher than authorized while flying between the Whiskey and Jędrzejów sectors, resulting in the infringement of the Kraków LTMA.
- A northern wind contributed to the deviation.
- The pilot's limited experience in navigational flight was a contributing factor.
- A temporary radio failure occurred due to overheating, which prevented the crew from establishing communication during the deviation, though the radio resumed normal operation after cooling.