Incident Overview
On April 27, 2020, a two-crew ATR 72-212 operated by Avions de Transport Régional experienced a serious incident at Cologne/Bonn Airport (EDDK). The aircraft was prepared for a cargo flight to Sofia, Bulgaria. During the night, the crew aligned the aircraft for takeoff on Runway 06 but inadvertently positioned it too close to the left edge.
Sequence of Events
At 03:53 local time, air traffic control instructed the crew to backtrack and line up on Runway 06. The pilot-in-command steered the aircraft using the tiller while completing pre-takeoff checks. During the turn at the designated pad, a noise was heard in the cockpit, which was initially mistaken for a door issue but later identified as a bag falling behind the seat.
The crew aligned the aircraft with what they believed to be the centerline lights, waiting for clearance due to crosswind traffic on Runway 32R. At 03:56, takeoff clearance was issued. As the aircraft accelerated, it struck multiple runway edge lights, causing objects to fly off and significant noise. The pilot aborted the takeoff at approximately 86 knots ground speed and taxied back to the parking stand.
Damage and Investigation Findings
Post-incident inspection revealed that nine runway edge lamps and one taxiway light were destroyed or damaged. The aircraft sustained minor damage to the nose gear, fuselage near the main landing gear, and propeller blades. Flight data recorders confirmed the crew's account of the alignment error. The investigation noted that the lighting system was set to low intensity (1% brightness), which may have contributed to the misalignment in dark conditions. No injuries were reported.