Event Description
On 16 October 2021, a Piper PA28 aircraft, registration SE-FYN, was conducting a flight from EPPL airport at an altitude of 6000 ft AMSL. At 11:05, the Aerodrome Flight Information Service Officer (AFISO) at EPML received information from FIS Krakow that the Piper crew had lost visual contact with the ground. The AFISO relayed this information to other aircraft in the aerodrome traffic zone (ATZ) of EPML, advising of an aircraft that would be descending.
At approximately 11:28, the Piper crew reported visual contact with the airport and an intention to land for refueling. The AFISO provided the crew with situational information about traffic in the vicinity. Subsequently, the Piper crew shortened their left downwind leg for runway 26 and conducted an approach directly behind an SZD-54 Perkoz glider. At 11:33, both aircraft landed on runway 26, with the Piper approximately 200 meters behind the glider at the moment of touchdown.
Weather forecasts and METAR reports for the region indicated scattered (SCT) and broken (BKN) cloud layers. The Piper's route between EPLL and EPWA airports passed over areas where two cloud layers were present, with the higher layer covering more than half the sky. Specifically, METAR data from 10:30 at EPLL and EPWA showed SCT clouds at 1200-1600 ft AGL and BKN at 1700-2600 ft AGL. A METAR from 11:30 at EPRZ (50 km southeast of EPML) indicated SCT at 2300 ft AGL and BKN at 3700 ft AGL. These conditions likely hindered visual observation and navigation for the Piper crew.
Cause and Contributing Factors
The investigation identified the following causes and contributing factors:
- Loss of visual contact with the ground during VFR flight at 6000 ft AMSL above clouds that covered more than half the sky from approximately 2500-2600 ft AGL.
- Improper analysis of traffic in the airport traffic pattern.
- Desire to execute a quick landing.
Actions Taken
No preventive actions or safety recommendations were formulated by the investigating body.