Near Miss Between Piper PA-28 and Comco Ikarus C42 B at Düsseldorf Airport

Incident Overview On 6 January 2015, the German Federal Aviation Accident Investigation Office (BFU) recorded a serious incident involving two aircraft in Class C airspace around Düsseldorf Airport. The event was closed summarily under § 18 FlUUG, presenting facts only. ## Aircraft and Personnel The first aircraft was a Piper Aircraft Cooperation PA-28-181, a single-engine, four-seat low-wing piston aircraft. It was on an IFR training flight with a 65-year-old flight instructor holding an ATPL(A) and over 27,000 hours, and a student. The second was a Comco Ikarus GmbH C42 B ultralight, a single-engine, two-seat high-wing piston aircraft, flown solo by a 46-year-old pilot with an SPL and over 252 hours. ## Sequence of Events At 11:57:18 local time, the IFR PA-28 and VFR C42 B approached each other. Radar data showed a minimum separation of 0.156 nautical miles horizontally and 300 feet vertically. A second approach occurred at 11:58:18, with a minimum separation of 0.414 NM horizontally and 0 feet vertically. The PA-28 crew received traffic information at 11:56:21 and 11:56:54. No avoidance recommendations were issued by air traffic control before the closest measured separation. The PA-28 crew reported the C42 B in sight at 11:58:04. At 12:00:47, the controller instructed the PA-28 to turn right to heading 180° because the C42 B was still nearby. The C42 B pilot reported departing Borkenberge at 11:32 and flying a route over Haltern, Gelsenkirchen, Gladbeck, Dinslaken, and Wesel, at 3,000–4,000 ft AMSL. Radar showed the C42 B climbed above 3,500 ft AMSL, exceeding the lower limit of the Class C airspace. The pilot stated no crossing aircraft was noticed and that he had been listening to the flight information service frequency. ## Environment and Airspace The METAR at 11:50 reported wind 160° at 4 knots and CAVOK. The PA-28 pilot described conditions as very windy; the C42 B pilot described light haze with visibility over 5 km and slightly reduced downward visibility. The area is Class C controlled airspace with a lower limit of 3,500 ft AMSL, requiring ATC clearance and continuous listening. IFR traffic is separated from other IFR and VFR traffic; VFR traffic receives traffic information about other VFR traffic. ## Outcome Both aircraft continued their flights as planned. There were no injuries, no damage to the aircraft, and no third-party damage.