Incident Overview
On 14 July 2019, an Ikarus C42 aircraft, registration D-MULZ, operated a visual flight from Anklam Airfield (EDCA, Germany) to Lech Wałęsa Airport Gdańsk (EPGD). The flight proceeded without apparent difficulty until reaching the vicinity of Słupsk, where the aircraft began to deviate from the intended route.
Communication Difficulties
The Flight Information Service Officer (FISO) in Gdańsk noted the deviation and provided additional information about zone activity near the flight path, suggesting a course correction. Over time, the FISO perceived that the crew was becoming increasingly lost. The officer spent considerable time relaying navigational information, but the crew often misunderstood transmissions or failed to confirm receipt. The FISO simplified messages and repeated key information multiple times. During radio exchanges, another voice was heard prompting the crew on what to say.
Air Traffic Control Interaction
After the aircraft reached the ZULU point of EPGD, control was transferred to the Gdańsk Tower (TWR). The aircraft's maneuvers became unpredictable, and communication remained very difficult. The TWR controller requested the Approach (APP) controller to delay an arriving commercial airliner until the Ikarus’s intentions were clear. The TWR issued instructions for the crew to fly via VFR waypoints, but the crew did not follow them. After several attempts, the controller gave a direct heading toward the airport, which the crew eventually complied with. The aircraft landed at 16:32 local time.
Airspace Violation
During the final hour of the flight, the Ikarus twice climbed above 1,800 feet AMSL while entering the Gdańsk Terminal Control Area (TMA) controlled airspace without clearance. Upon caution from ATC, the crew descended.
Cause of the Incident
The State Commission on Aircraft Accidents Investigation determined the cause to be inappropriate preparation of the crew for performing visual flight in FIR Warsaw and for conducting radio communications in English. No contributing factors or safety recommendations were identified.