What happened
On March 15, 2022, at 13:30 UTC, a CESSNA 550 B, registration EC-KKO, was performing an emergency medical transport flight from Melilla to Málaga-Costa del Sol Airport (LEMG). The aircraft was carrying a crew of two, medical personnel, a patient, and an accompanying person. At the time of the incident, the airport was operating in a southern configuration, with runway 12 designated for arrivals and runway 13 for departures.
During the approach, Air Traffic Control (ATC) proposed that the crew perform a VOR approach to runway 13 rather than runway 12 to facilitate the subsequent evacuation of the patient. The crew accepted this instruction. However, while performing the approach, the crew identified the lights of runway 12 and proceeded to land on it. The crew realized they were on the incorrect runway just before touchdown, but decided to continue the landing as the runway was unoccupied and it was too late to execute a go-around. The crew was subsequently notified by ATC that they had landed on runway 12.
The investigation
The investigation examined the operational procedures, lighting configurations, and meteorological conditions at the time of the event. It was established that while the PAPI lights for runway 13 were active, the ILS was out of service. Furthermore, the approach and runway lights for runway 13 were not activated.
Radar data confirmed the aircraft's path, showing it following the VOR approach for runway 13 but transitioning to the final approach for runway 12. The investigation also noted that the meteorological conditions involved heavy rain and a high concentration of Saharan dust (calima), which significantly reduced visibility and may have affected the crew's perception of the runway environment.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was the ATC authorization for runway 13 without completing the established procedure to activate the approach lights as required by the facility's manual.
- The convergence of the final approach paths for runways 12 and 13 increased the risk of confusion.
- The approach and runway lights for runway 13 were not illuminated because the runway was designated for departures.
- Heavy rain and intense dust (calima) reduced visibility and likely impacted the crew's ability to distinguish between the two runways.
- The crew landed on runway 12 because it was the only runway clearly visible through the adverse weather conditions.