Incident Overview
On 9 May 2022, a serious incident occurred in airspace east of Śmigiel, Poland, involving a Tecnam P2008-JC aircraft (registration SP-SMD) and a pair of F-16 aircraft. The Tecnam, piloted by a holder of a Private Pilot License (PPL(A)), was conducting a planned flight from EPPO aerodrome via EPLS and EPOM, returning to EPPO. The pilot had reviewed airspace restrictions and filed a flight plan.
Sequence of Events
At 09:31 local time (LMT = UTC+2), the pilot contacted FIS Poznań to confirm updated restriction information. At 10:27, after departing EPPO CTR, the pilot reported intent to fly to EPLS. The FIS officer provided the QNH and instructed to "perform the flight as planned," without providing information about restrictions on the route. At 10:28, the leader of two Extra300 aircraft departing EPPG reported to FIS Poznań.
The FIS officer provided the Extra300 crews with QNH and information on active MRT015 and MRT016, suggesting climbing to 2000 ft AMSL. When the Extra300 reached 2200 ft, the FIS officer advised to maintain that altitude due to another MRT.
At 10:39, the FIS officer was occupied with traffic in the southern sector while an assistant conducted a phone conversation. As the Tecnam approached MRT018 at 1000 ft AMSL, the F-16 pair, after leaving TSA07, flew east within MRT018 at approximately 800 ft AMSL and 400 kt. At 10:40:30, the Air Defense System controller contacted the FIS assistant about the aircraft approaching MRT018 from the north. The assistant could not see it. The F-16 crews received information about an aircraft 3 NM away at 800 ft crossing MRT018 southbound and were instructed to climb to 1500 ft to avoid collision.
At 10:41, during climb, the F-16 crews spotted the Tecnam crossing the MRT route at about 90° angle south, west of Śmigiel. At the closest point, the F-16s were at 1160 ft AMSL, and the Tecnam passed approximately 150 ft below. The Tecnam pilot reported seeing one F-16 about 500 m away and executed a right turn.
After the airprox, the FIS officer attempted to instruct the Tecnam to climb to 2000 ft but communication was interrupted. At 10:42, an F-16 pilot transmitted on FIS frequency that MRTs were active and the aircraft likely a Cessna, asking to warn crews of jets at 500 kt and 500 ft AGL.
Causes and Contributing Factor
The State Commission on Aircraft Accidents Investigation (PKBWL) identified two causes: 1) The Tecnam pilot’s failure to properly analyze data on airspace element activity. 2) The FIS officer’s failure to provide the Tecnam crew information on MRT activity on the flight route.
A contributing factor was the involvement of FIS personnel in radio communication with another aircraft and a telephone conversation minutes before the airprox.
Aftermath
Both aircraft continued their planned routes after the incident. No injuries or damage were reported. The FIS officer stated he assumed the Tecnam pilot could hear transmissions to the Extra300 and should have reacted, but the commission noted unequal treatment of air traffic participants.
Preventive Measures
Smart Aviation, the Tecnam operator, reminded staff to plan routes away from inaccessible zones and included the incident in safety training and risk analysis. PANSA provided investigation findings to Smart Aviation and discussed the incident with the involved FIS officer.
No safety recommendations were formulated by the commission.