What happened
On 18 April 2022, a serious airprox incident occurred within the control zone of Kraków Airport (EPKK). An Embraer 190, registration SP-LNF, was performing an RNP approach to runway 07 when the crew initiated a missed approach. Approximately 10 seconds prior to this decision, an Airbus A320, registration D-AIZJ, had taken off from the same runway in the same direction.
Following the go-around, the tower controller instructed the Airbus A320 crew to continue straight and directed the Embraer 190 crew to perform an immediate left turn to the north. During this maneuver, the horizontal separation between the two aircraft decreased to 1.3 NM, with a vertical separation of only 300 ft. Once the aircraft were on diverging courses and separation had increased to approximately 1.5 NM horizontally and 400 ft vertically, communications were transferred to the approach controller. The Embraer 190 subsequently landed at EPKK without further incident.
The investigation
The investigation examined the radar data and controller actions leading up to the loss of separation. It was established that the approach controller (DIR KK) had guided the Embraer 190 on a straight-in approach to runway 07 at 4,000 ft without applying speed control. As the aircraft approached the threshold, the crew maintained a speed of 209 kt, significantly exceeding the required 16 of 160 kt. Radar analysis showed the aircraft crossed the approach line three times before stabilizing at 2,400 ft, which was 600 ft above the required altitude.
When the Embraer 190 was approximately 2.5 NM from the threshold, the tower controller cleared the Airbus A320 for takeoff. Shortly after the Airbus A320 lifted off, the tower controller issued a landing clearance to the Embraer 190 while it was only 0.5 NM from the runway threshold. Four seconds after receiving this clearance, the Embraer 190 crew determined the approach was unstable due to the excessive speed and executed a go-around.
Findings
- The landing clearance for the Embraer 190 was issued under conditions of insufficient separation from the Airbus A320 during its takeoff roll.
- The tower controller planned the takeoff of the Airbus A320 before the landing of the Embraer 190 and had communicated this plan to the approach controller.
- The approach controller failed to implement speed control for the Embraer 190 prior to transferring communications to the tower.
- The tower controller failed to ensure adequate separation between the departing and arriving aircraft.