What happened
On January 21, 2020, at 15:05 LMT, a Calidus gyrocopter, registration SP-XTBB, arrived from the east near the upper station of a chairlift in Laskowa, Poland. The pilot proceeded to fly along a ski slope at an extremely low altitude, passing directly over the heads of skiers. After completing one circuit over the ski resort complex, the aircraft departed toward the west.
This event was noted as being strikingly similar to a previous incident involving the same aircraft that occurred earlier in January 2020.
The investigation
The PKBWL investigation confirmed that the Calidus gyrocopter is officially entered in the Civil Aircraft Register maintained by the Civil Aviation Authority (ULC). However, the investigation established that the aircraft was being operated in a manner that constituted a gross violation of Aviation Law.
Findings
- The aircraft was being operated in direct violation of established aviation regulations.
- The flight path involved flying at dangerously low altitudes over populated areas (the ski slope).
- This was a repeat occurrence for the specific aircraft, following a similar incident involving the same registration earlier in the same month.