Near Miss Between Cirrus SR20 and Cessna 182P Near Wuppertal

Incident Overview and Aircraft Details On 10 August 2023, a near-miss incident occurred in Class E airspace near Wuppertal, Germany, involving a Cirrus SR20 and a Cessna 182P. Both aircraft were operating under visual flight rules (VFR). The German Federal Aviation Office (BFU) investigated the event under case number BFU23-0780-RX. The Cirrus SR20, a four-seat low-wing piston aircraft with serial number 1669 and a maximum takeoff mass of 1,361 kg, was privately operated and registered in Germany. It was equipped with an Avidyne SkyTrax600 Traffic Collision Avoidance System. The Cessna 182P, a four-seat high-wing piston aircraft with serial number 18261524 and a maximum takeoff mass of 1,338 kg, was also privately operated and registered in Germany. ## Flight Operations and Pilot Actions The SR20 was flying from Speyer/Ludwigshafen to Groningen, Netherlands, with a single pilot aboard. Radar data indicated the aircraft was traveling at approximately 140 knots over ground on a heading of 345°. The pilot reported being in radio contact with Langen Information on 129.875 MHz. At 3,200 feet AMSL, the pilot's traffic warning system displayed a conflict with a vertical separation of less than 100 feet. The pilot visually identified a high-wing aircraft with a dark blue nose on a reciprocal heading at the same altitude. In response, the pilot initiated a left turn and pulled back on the control yoke, losing sight of the other aircraft. The pilot estimated the minimum distance to be approximately 50 meters and subsequently informed Langen Information of the encounter. The Cessna 182P was flying from Loemühle to Freiburg, also with a single pilot. Radar data showed the aircraft moving at approximately 120 knots over ground on a heading of 170°. The pilot was in radio contact with Langen Information on 129.875 MHz but reported no unusual occurrences and did not notice the approach. ## Air Traffic Services and Contributing Factors The responsible air traffic services specialist, a 46-year-old professional, had taken over the position approximately 15 minutes before the incident and was still in the familiarization phase. The specialist reported high workload due to numerous pilots on the frequency and divided attention caused by identifying another aircraft. The collision warning system at the air traffic services unit did not generate warnings between VFR targets, and the specialist did not detect the approach until notified by the SR20 pilot. ## Pilot Qualifications and Medical Status The SR20 pilot was a 32-year-old commercial pilot (CPL(A)) licensed by the Civil Aviation Authority Netherlands, with approximately 1,700 hours of total flight experience. The pilot held a Class 1 medical certificate valid until 20 March 2024, with no restrictions. The Cessna 182P pilot was a 67-year-old private pilot (PPL(A)) licensed by the Bezirksregierung Münster, with approximately 463 hours of total flight experience. The pilot held a Class 2 medical certificate valid until 10 July 2024, with restrictions for corrective lenses and hearing aids. ## Environmental and Regulatory Context Meteorological conditions at Dortmund Airport, approximately 15 nautical miles away, at 12:50 local time indicated variable winds at 3 knots, visibility greater than 10 km, no significant cloud below 5,000 feet, a temperature of 20°C, a dew point of 12°C, and a QNH of 1,022 hPa. The sun was positioned approximately 170° and 54° above the horizon at the time of the incident. Class E airspace is controlled airspace where both IFR and VFR flights are permitted. VFR flights receive traffic information as far as practical. The incident occurred at 12:57:37 local time according to radar data. Both aircraft continued their flights as planned. The investigation referenced ICAO Annex 11 and EU Regulation 923/2012, which define the responsibilities of air traffic services to prevent collisions and provide traffic information in Class E airspace.