Misaligned Takeoff at Cologne/Bonn Airport Damages Runway Lighting

Casualties unknown • Flughafen Köln/Bonn, DE

An ATR 72-212 cargo flight experienced a heavy disturbance after the crew mistakenly lined up with runway edge lights instead of the centerline during a night takeoff.

What happened

In the early hours of April 27, 2020, a two-person crew operating an ATR 72-212 cargo flight from Cologne/Bonn to Sofia, Bulgaria, experienced a serious disturbance during takeoff. After receiving clearance to backtrack and line up on runway 06, the crew taxied via the turnpad. During the turn, a sudden noise in the cockpit—later identified as a pilot's bag falling behind a seat—caused a brief distraction as the crew investigated.

Believing they were correctly positioned on the runway centerline, the crew received takeoff clearance at 03:56 local time. However, during the takeoff roll, the aircraft experienced several unexpected impacts. The pilot immediately aborted the takeoff. A subsequent inspection revealed that the aircraft had struck several runway edge lights, resulting in 9 destroyed runway edge lights and damage to a taxiway light. The aircraft itself sustained light damage to the nose gear, fuselage underside, and propeller blades.

The investigation

The BFU investigation focused on why the crew misaligned the aircraft. Investigators examined the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) and flight data recorder (FDR), noting that the crew followed standard checklists but were momentarily distracted by the falling object in the cockpit. The investigation also reviewed the airport's physical configuration, noting that due to construction, taxiway Bravo was closed, forcing aircraft to use the turnpad and backtrack on the runway.

Findings

  • The primary cause of the incident was the crew's misidentification of the runway edge lights as the runway centerline.
  • A momentary cockpit distraction during the turn prevented the crew from maintaining continuous situational awareness of their position.
  • The physical layout of the turnpad and the broken edge markings at the runway threshold created a visual ambiguity that resembled a centerline.
  • At night, the visual difference between the edge lights and centerline lights was difficult to discern from the cockpit due to the viewing angle and the similar brightness of the lighting systems.
  • The high level of visibility (CAVOK) may have contributed to a lower level of vigilance among the crew.

Probable cause

The crew mistakenly aligned the aircraft with the left runway edge lights instead of the centerline, a mistake facilitated by a momentary cockpit distraction and the ambiguous visual appearance of the lighting and markings during night operations.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2020-04-27 Avions de Transport Régional ATR 72-212 accident near Flughafen Köln/Bonn, DE?

An ATR 72-212 cargo flight experienced a heavy disturbance after the crew mistakenly lined up with runway edge lights instead of the centerline during a night takeoff.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2020-04-27 involved a Avions de Transport Régional ATR 72-212, at Flughafen Köln/Bonn, DE.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The crew mistakenly aligned the aircraft with the left runway edge lights instead of the centerline, a mistake facilitated by a momentary cockpit distraction and the ambiguous visual appearance of the lighting and markings during night operations.

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