What happened
On June 30, 2022, at approximately 13:30 UTC, a Cessna 208B, registration SP-WAW, was performing a VFR departure from Kbely Airport (LKKB) toward Warsaw-Babice (EPBC). Following takeoff from runway 24, the pilot received instructions to proceed to the LIMA waypoint. Simultaneously, a military L-410 UVP-E-20M, registration 2602, was established on the ILS approach to runway 24.
While the pilot of SP-WAW initially acknowledged the instructions, the aircraft began turning left instead of following the assigned route. This deviation placed the aircraft on a collision course with the descending L-4 and the runway centerline. Air Traffic Control (ATC) issued multiple warnings regarding traffic and an urgent instruction to turn right to a heading of 090°. To prevent a collision, ATC also ordered the L-410 to climb immediately. The two aircraft passed each other with a lateral separation of approximately 200 meters and a vertical separation of about 600 feet.
The investigation
The ÚZPLN investigation examined the flight paths, ATC communications, and the pilot's actions. The investigation established that the pilot of SP-WAW had entered an incorrect waypoint into the navigation system, inputting LKML instead of the required LIMA waypoint. This error caused the aircraft's trajectory to drift toward the runway approach path. Furthermore, the investigation found that the pilot's focus on establishing visual contact with the oncoming traffic delayed his response to ATC instructions.
Findings
- The pilot of SP-WAW incorrectly entered the waypoint into the navigation system, which caused the flight path deviation.
- The pilot of SP-WAW reacted late to ATC instructions because he was preoccupied with searching for the other aircraft visually.
- The pilot of SP-WAW did not understand certain ATC communications because they were delivered in Czech, whereas he was focused on visual scanning.
- ATC provided timely and necessary instructions to both aircraft to mitigate the risk of collision.
- There were no injuries or damage to the aircraft involved.