What happened
On July 1, 2018, a single-pilot flight involving an advanced ultralight Pioneer 200, registration I-6688, resulted in an unauthorized landing at Verona Villafranca Airport (LIPX). The flight originated from Fratte di Montefano with the intended destination of Verona Boscomantico (LIPN).
During the flight, the pilot transitioned through the controlled airspace (CTR) of Bologna without notifying Air Traffic Services (ATS) or receiving authorization. The pilot also entered the Verona CTR without establishing radio contact or activating the transponder, leaving the aircraft in "stand-by" mode. While navigating near Verona, the pilot established radio contact with a local parachute club frequency at Boscomantico. Following instructions from that frequency to fly around the city, the pilot spotted a runway and, believing it to be the intended destination, aligned for landing. It was only upon crossing the threshold and seeing the runway designation "04" that the pilot realized they had landed at the much larger commercial airport of Villafranca instead of Boscomantico.
The landing occurred at 13:11 UTC, notably between the departures of two commercial airliners and just minutes before the arrival of a Boeing 737. After landing, the pilot vacated the runway and parked in a military area before contacting local firefighters to report the error.
The investigation
The ANSV investigation reconstructed the flight path using GPS data from the pilot's navigation applications and analyzed radio communications. The investigation examined the pilot's flight planning, which relied on internet sources rather than the official Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP). The inquiry also reviewed the pilot's decision to keep the transponder in standby mode and the impact of environmental conditions, specifically extreme cockpit temperatures reaching approximately 43°C.
Findings
- The primary cause of the event was superficial and approximate flight planning, which led to the disregard of essential air rules.
- The pilot failed to consult the AIP, leading to an unawareness of the specific airspace restrictions and the fact that Villafranca is not a permitted site for advanced ultralight operations.
- The pilot's decision to avoid controlled airspace due to radio equipment limitations and a lack of familiarity with recent frequency changes contributed to the unauthorized penetration of the Bologna and Verona CTRs.
- The pilot's decision to keep the transponder in standby mode prevented ATC from detecting the aircraft on radar.
- High cockpit temperatures may have contributed to degraded decision-making and environmental perception.