Incident Overview
On 28 January 2001, a Cessna 441 operating a commercial instrument flight rules (IFR) flight from Paderborn-Lippstadt to Düsseldorf Airport experienced a serious incident. The aircraft, with two pilots on board, was conducting a stabilized instrument approach to runway 23R when Düsseldorf Tower offered a runway change ("swingover") to runway 23L. The crew accepted and initiated a visual approach adjustment.
Sequence of Events
At 11:03 UTC, the crew established radio contact with Düsseldorf Tower. One minute later, they reported visual contact with the airport and confirmed the approach to runway 23L. At 11:04, the tower cleared them for a "long landing" on runway 23L. However, during the visual runway change, the pilot flying lost visual reference to runway 23R and subsequently mistook the parallel taxiway M for runway 23L.
As the Cessna approached, it overflew a Boeing 767 that was taxiing on taxiway M toward runway 23L, at an altitude of 300–400 feet above ground level. The tower controller did not notice the misalignment until the Cessna was short of touchdown on taxiway M. The controller immediately instructed a go-around, but the crew did not comply and landed on taxiway M. The pilot flying realized his error only after the go-around instruction but decided to continue the landing, as it was already in progress.
Environmental Conditions
Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at Düsseldorf Airport, with light haze and sun glare reported by the crew during the approach, which may have affected visibility. The control tower is located south of taxiway M in the western airport area, which restricts visibility to the area east of taxiway M, making it difficult for controllers to distinguish aircraft landing on the taxiway versus the runway without deliberate monitoring.
Aircraft and Damage
The Cessna 441 sustained no damage. No injuries were reported among the two pilots or third parties. The Boeing 767 on taxiway M was not involved in any collision or near-collision, as it remained sufficiently distant.
Findings
The investigation concluded that the serious incident resulted from a misidentification of taxiway M for runway 23L by the pilot-in-command during the visual approach.