What happened
On July 25, 2015, a flight training mission was being conducted by a crew consisting of a student pilot and an instructor. The flight was part of an integrated ATPL(A) training program, specifically performing a VFR navigation task. The aircraft, a Socata TB-9 Tampico, was maintaining an altitude of 2,000 feet AMSL. After exiting the Kraków (EPRZ) CTR near the "Hotel" waypoint, the crew established contact with Kraków FIS.
The flight continued toward the next turning point in Tarnogund. At 08:50 UTC, the Kraków Tower controller observed an unidentified aircraft on the radar screen traveling northeast at 2,000 feet, approximately 18 NM east of the EPRZ aerodrome. The Tower Assistant attempted to identify the aircraft, which was in contact with both Kraków FIS and Mielec Tower. By 09:05 UTC, FIS authorities identified the aircraft as SP-TUL, operated by the Rzeszów University of Technology Flight Training Organization.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the unauthorized presence of the aircraft within the Kraków TMA. Investigators reviewed radar data, communications between the crew and air traffic services, and the flight plan parameters. The investigation established that the meteorological conditions on the day of the event did not contribute to the incident.
Findings
- The primary cause of the airspace violation was the crew's failure to descend below 1,500 feet, which would have allowed the aircraft to transit below the controlled airspace.
- The aircraft was operating as part of a structured training program under the Rzeszów University of Technology.