What happened
On June 16, 2020, at Warsaw-Babice Airport (EPBC), a student pilot was performing their second solo circuit flight in an AT3-R100 (registration SP-RWG). The flight was part of a training program for a PPL(A) license, conducted under VFR conditions during the daytime.
While the student pilot was executing the first turn of the circuit at an altitude of approximately 1,500 feet, a second aircraft, a Cessna 150 (registration D-ECNI), approached the circuit from the direction of the "FOXTROT" navigational point. The pilot of the Cess and 150 entered the circuit at the same altitude, maintaining a position on the outer boundary. During the maneuver, the pilot of the Cessna 150 briefly observed the AT3-R100 at a distance of approximately 200-300 feet to the right and below, but subsequently lost visual contact with the training aircraft. Consequently, the Cessna 150 overtook the AT3-R100 and landed first, while the student pilot landed second.
The investigation
The PKBWL investigation established that the pilot of the Cessna 150 was a qualified PPL(A) holder. The investigation noted that the student pilot performed the solo maneuvers correctly. The inquiry also examined the coordination between air traffic services, noting that the pilot of the Cessna 150 had received information regarding the circuit situation from AFIS Babice and had switched to the Babice radio frequency.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was the failure to maintain appropriate separation by the Cessna 150 relative to the AT3-R100, which held the right-of-way for landing.
- A lack of adequate supervision of aircraft traffic in the circuit at Warsaw-Babice contributed to the event.
- The simultaneous operation of AFIS and flight controllers in the same airspace on different frequencies, without effective coordination, was a contributing factor.