Summary
On 25 August 2024, at approximately 12:10 local time, a serious incident occurred at the Piotrków Trybunalski airport (EPPT) involving a Tecnam P2008-JC (registration SP-LFH) and an SZD-30 "Pirat" glider (registration SP-2976). The glider was being flown by a student pilot, while the Tecnam was operated by an instructor pilot with a student. No collision occurred, and both aircraft landed safely.
Sequence of Events
The airport was conducting training flights for both gliders and powered aircraft. A flight director and his assistant (a glider instructor) were supervising the operations. The glider student, after an unsuccessful attempt to find thermal lift, was approaching to land on runway 21L. He joined the third left turn of the traffic pattern. Meanwhile, the Tecnam, which was on the downwind leg, began practicing an emergency landing simulation with a left-hand pattern. The glider student, after turning final, continued his approach with spoilers partially open. At an altitude of about 70 m AGL, he noticed the Tecnam approaching from his left side, approximately 20 m below and ahead. He partially closed the spoilers and briefly leveled off, allowing the Tecnam to pass underneath, thereby avoiding a collision. The Tecnam landed safely on runway 21R, and the glider landed on runway 21L.
The flight director acknowledged via radio the Tecnam crew's intention to perform an emergency landing simulation but stated that he did not monitor the traffic pattern. The assistant glider instructor also failed to recognize the risk early enough; he did not observe the glider's entry into the pattern and only noticed it during the final approach when the Tecnam was passing underneath. The Tecnam instructor pilot did not see the glider at all.
Causes and Contributing Factors
The investigation identified several factors that led to the incident: 1. Lack of situational awareness of the flight director and his assistant, resulting in inadequate monitoring of air traffic and failure to anticipate potential hazards. 2. The decision of the instructor in the Tecnam to practice an emergency landing simulation with a left-hand pattern without ensuring that the approach area was clear of other traffic. 3. Excessive focus by the Tecnam crew on the task of landing with a throttled engine, leading to improper division of attention.
Preventive Actions
The investigating body accepted the following preventive measures proposed by the organization:
- Conducting theoretical and practical training for flight directors at EPPT.
- Implementing changes in flight organization at the airport, including:
- Requirement for direct supervision of glider flights by a glider instructor on the ground regarding flight preparation and launch procedures.
- Requirement for a glider instructor to be present during thermal flights, coordinating with the flight director via radio.
- Mandatory reporting of plans to simulate emergency landings to the flight director.
No safety recommendations were formulated by the commission.
Commentary
The commission noted the increasing number of general aviation (GA) operations at Polish airports and airstrips, which raises the probability of collisions, especially when aircraft are concentrated in a small airspace. It emphasized that in VFR flights, especially in the traffic pattern, pilots have the primary responsibility to ensure separation from other aircraft. Observation, anticipation, and awareness are essential for safe flight. The commission also highlighted that gliders (unpowered aircraft) have landing priority over powered aircraft. Where possible, separating traffic patterns for gliders and powered aircraft is advisable. Adequate ground supervision by a flight director is also recommended.