Incident Overview
On 9 August 2020, a Cessna 152 (registration SP-KWW) was involved in a ground incident at Łódź-Lublinek Airport (EPLL). The aircraft was piloted by an 18-year-old female with approximately 90 flight hours. The aircraft had landed and initially taxied to parking spot 8 near the Aeroklub Łódzki hangar.
Sequence of Events
After receiving instructions to refuel, the pilot requested permission from Łódź-Lublinek Tower (TWR) to start the engine and taxi to the fuel station, located near taxiway B. The pilot was cleared to taxi via taxiway A to the holding point before runway 25. At around 10:58 local time, the pilot restarted the engine and began taxiing. Instead of following taxiway A, she mistakenly entered a service road intended for vehicles. At the intersection with a second service road near taxiway C, she failed to notice a STOP sign equipped with a signal indicator. The right wing of the aircraft struck the sign. The pilot did not stop and continued taxiing toward the holding point. She then received clearance to cross runway 25 and proceed via taxiway B. After reaching the fuel station, she shut down the engine. Upon exiting the aircraft, she observed damage to the right wing. The airport duty officer later informed her that the STOP sign had also been damaged. The aircraft carried the required documentation, including a copy of the EPLL airport diagram from the Polish AIP.
Cause
The Polish State Commission on Aircraft Accident Investigation determined that the cause was failure to follow taxi procedures at a controlled airport, specifically pilot error consisting of taxiing on a service road.
Contributing Factors
The investigation identified several contributing factors: the pilot's low experience (approximately 90 flight hours), inadequate pre-flight preparation as she did not thoroughly familiarize herself with the airport diagram, and high ambient temperature which may have contributed to fatigue and loss of concentration.
Recommendations
The investigating body proposed preventive actions: additional ground training for the pilot regarding ground movement rules and procedures, emphasizing the importance of studying official airport information (AIP) before flights, and reminding flight organizers to verify pilot preparation, especially for those with low experience.