What happened
On May 22, 2018, an instructor and a student pilot were conducting night flight training at Łódź Lublinek Airport (EPLL). The flight crew intended to conclude all operations before 23:00, the time at which airport services and the Tower (TWR) end their duty.
Before commencing the final flight of the session, the instructor noted that his watch indicated 22:54. Based on this time, the instructor decided to perform one additional circuit over the aerodrome. However, while the Cessna C-152 was maneuvering prior to the third turn toward runway 25, the crew received radio notification that the Tower had already ceased operations. The aircraft landed on runway 2t5 approximately three minutes later using full runway lighting, and the incident resulted in no damage or injuries.
The investigation
The investigation examined the timing of the flight operations and the crew's decision-making process. The investigation established that the pilot's watch was not synchronized with the actual time, leading the crew to believe they had more time remaining before the airport services closed.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was a lack of time synchronization prior to the planned flights.
- The instructor made an erroneous decision to initiate a final flight only minutes before the scheduled closure of airport services.
Safety action
Following the incident, the operator conducted training for the flight crew and aeroclub personnel regarding flight planning procedures.