What happened
On June 21, 2020, a crew operating a Piper PA-30-220T Seneca V, registration SP-TUE, was conducting instrument approaches to runway 27 at Rzeszów-Jasionka Airport (EPRZ) for the purpose of flight time extension. At the time of the incident, the airport was temporarily closed under a NOTAM, and the airspace was functioning as the Rzeszów RMZ. The crew was operating from the adjacent Rzeszów-Jasionka airport (EPRJ) and was communicating with EPRJ tower while monitoring Kraków FIS.
During the final approach phase, the aircraft performed a very low-level pass, at an altitude of approximately 0.5 to 1 meter, along the entire length of runway 27 at EPRZ. This maneuver concluded at 13:00 UTC, exactly when the airport was scheduled to reopen. The crew did not establish contact with the EPRZ Tower controller during this low pass. The maneuver was observed by the incoming tower controller, who was performing a field inspection. At the time, the controller was also managing communications with another approaching aircraft.
Following this low-level flight, the SP-TUE entered the active EPRZ CTR without a filed flight plan and performed an additional touch-and-go maneuver on runway 26L at EPRJ. The aircraft eventually landed at 13:14 UTC, having coordinated this final approach with the EPRZ Tower.
The investigation
The PKBWL examined the flight sequences and communication logs. An analysis of the traffic situation conducted by PANSA (PAŻP) determined that the maneuver did not result in a loss of separation between the aircraft involved, meaning no immediate collision risk was created between the two aircraft in the vicinity.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was an operational error by the crew, specifically the decision to extend their flight time beyond the planned period, which led to the unauthorized entry into the active Rzeszów-Junction CTR.
- The low-altitude flight over the runway was performed without the knowledge or consent of the airport management.