Near Miss Between Cirrus SR22 and Remos GXNXT in Mönchengladbach Approach Area

Incident Overview On 11 May 2018, a serious incident occurred in Class E airspace in the approach area of Mönchengladbach Airport. A Cirrus Design Corporation SR22, operating under instrument flight rules, and a Remos GXNXT ultralight aircraft, operating under visual flight rules, came into close proximity. The minimum separation recorded was approximately 120 m laterally and 25 ft vertically. No persons were injured, and no damage was reported to either aircraft or to third parties. ## Flight Operations The SR22 was on an instrument landing system approach to runway 13 at Mönchengladbach Airport, carrying the pilot in command and one passenger. The Remos GXNXT was in a VFR cruise flight from Grefrath-Niershorst to Aachen-Merzbrück, with only the pilot on board. ## Air Traffic Control and Alerting The SR22 pilot was in communication with Langen Radar. At 15:45:59 local time, the controller issued a clearance to turn right to 100° and follow the ILS for runway 13. At 15:46:03, a predicted Short Term Conflict Alert (STCA) was triggered at the controller's workstation, with the two aircraft approximately 4.1 nautical miles apart. At 15:46:33, the alert changed to current, with the aircraft about 2.2 nautical miles apart and on converging vectors. The controller provided the first traffic information to the SR22 pilot at 15:46:50, describing unknown VFR traffic at 12 o'clock, one mile, moving left-right, at 2,500 feet. The pilot responded that he did not have the aircraft in sight. At that time, the aircraft were about 1.2 nautical miles apart. The SR22 was descending through 2,800 ft AMSL, while the Remos was at 2,500 ft AMSL. A second traffic information was issued at 15:46:58, with the traffic at 12 o'clock, half a mile, opposite direction, at 2,500 feet indicated, not confirmed. The aircraft were then 0.7 nautical miles apart, with the SR22 200 ft above the Remos. ## Closest Approach and Pilot Actions The aircraft passed each other at 15:47:10. The SR22 pilot reported visual contact at 15:47:16, stating the aircraft was very close. The SR22 pilot stated that he was alerted simultaneously by the first traffic information and the aircraft's traffic alert and collision avoidance system, which displayed an aircraft 100 ft below his altitude. Unable to see the other aircraft, he decided to disengage the autopilot and initiate a climb. The Remos pilot stated that he first saw the SR22 at the moment of passing, with the impression that it came from behind and to the right, overflying him at a distance of approximately 30-40 ft. ## Aircraft and Personnel The SR22 is a four-seat, single-engine low-wing aircraft, certified in the United States and privately operated. It was equipped with instrument flight safety equipment and an L3 Skywatch traffic alerting system. The Remos GXNXT is a two-seat, three-axis controlled high-wing ultralight aircraft, certified in Germany and operated by a flight school that also chartered it. It was equipped with an active transponder. The SR22 pilot was 67 years old, holding a UK CAA PPL(A) and a US FAA PPL(A) with instrument rating, with over 2,239 total flight hours, including 2,135 hours on type. The Remos pilot was 61 years old, holding a DAeC ultralight pilot license with passenger privileges, with approximately 100 total flight hours. The responsible air traffic controller was 30 years old and held a valid BAF license. ## Meteorological Conditions The METAR for Mönchengladbach at 15:20 local time reported surface wind 130° (080V220) at 7 kt, ground visibility greater than 10 km, no significant cloud below 5,000 ft (CAVOK), temperature 18°C, and dew point 7°C. At the time of the incident, the sun was approximately 238° at an elevation of 44° above the horizon.