What happened
On July 8, 2020, an incident occurred at Chrcynno Airport (EPNC) during scheduled parachute jumping operations. A Koliber 150, registration SP-FRE, entered the airport's active zone without establishing any radio communication with the personnel conducting the jumps. The aircraft proceeded to perform six traffic pattern circuits over the airfield. At 17:24 LMT, the aircraft departed the EPNC airspace, heading toward Babice Airport.
Upon investigation, the pilot stated that prior to entering the airspace, they had been monitoring the FIS Olsztyn frequency but received no information regarding the active zone or the ongoing parachute operations. The pilot also reported attempts to establish contact on the Chrcynno airport frequency, which were unsuccessful.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the lack of communication and the failure to identify the active airspace. The inquiry examined the pilot's pre-flight preparations, the information provided by air traffic services, and the internal communication protocols regarding the airport's operational agreements.
Findings
- The primary cause was the pilot's inadequate flight preparation, specifically a failure to familiarize themselves with the current active hours of the airspace.
- There was a lack of notification from the Chrcynno Airport management regarding the extension of the active zone's duration.
- Contributing factors included improper internal communication within the organization regarding the existing agreement with the airport management concerning flight operations at EPNC.
Safety action
- The investigation report is to be published in the Bulletin BL.
- Standardized training for all flying personnel must include instruction on proper navigational preparation procedures prior to flight.