Overview
On 14 July 2019, at Piotrków Trybunalski Airport (EPPT), parachute jumps and glider flights were taking place. A Skyvan SC-7 was dropping parachutists. A pilot holding a PPL(A) license was flying a Tecnam P2008-JC, registration SP-DME, from Łódź Airport (EPLL) to Rudniki Airport near Częstochowa (EPRU), with a planned stop at EPPT.
Incident Details
The Tecnam pilot reported over the NOVEMBER point of EPPT, stating intentions. The jumpmaster relayed arrival information but did not inform the pilot about ongoing parachute jumps. The Tecnam pilot entered the downwind leg for Runway 03. While on downwind, the pilot sighted the Skyvan on final and decided to extend the downwind leg to ensure adequate separation.
As the Tecnam turned onto final approach for Runway 03, descending through approximately 300 feet AGL, the pilot noticed that the Skyvan—contrary to expectations—had not landed on the grass strip but on the asphalt runway and was performing a backtrack. The Tecnam pilot initiated a go-around.
The Skyvan crew, while backtracking, observed that the Tecnam's flight path was directly toward a parachutist positioned over the first portion of Runway 03. Believing the Tecnam crew was not reacting, the Skyvan commander radioed an instruction for the Tecnam to turn immediately to the right due to the parachutist on the aircraft's course. After hearing this advisory, the Tecnam pilot executed a right turn to move away from the runway axis, missing the parachutist, and then continued the flight along the planned route.
Probable Cause
Not conveying information about parachute jumps to the crew of the aircraft entering the airport area.
Contributing Factor
The parachutist's position was too close to the active runway, far east of the designated parachute square.