Incident Description
On 27 October 2013 at 15:18 local time, a Beechcraft 1900D aircraft, registration CS-TMU, operating as TAP1075, departed from runway 13 at Málaga Airport (LEMG) on an IFR flight to Lisbon Airport (LPPT). The crew consisted of two pilots and there were 17 passengers aboard.
During the initial climb, the crew received a traffic advisory from their TCAS. A Rockwell Commander, registration N111HY, on a private VFR flight along the coast, had intercepted the extended centerline of runway 13 and was approaching the Beechcraft.
Air Traffic Control (ATC) warned the private flight of its proximity to the other aircraft. The Rockwell Commander then executed a 180° left turn. The minimum separation between the two aircraft was 0.2 NM horizontally and 225 ft vertically, with the Rockwell Commander above and to the left of the Beechcraft. The Beechcraft crew did not take evasive action and continued climbing normally.
Personnel Information
Beechcraft Crew (CS-TMU): The captain, aged 64, held an ATPL(A) with ratings for B-300/1900 models and had 8,500 total flight hours. The first officer, aged 37, held a CPL(A) with B-300/1900 rating and had 870 flight hours. Both had valid licenses, ratings, and medical certificates.
Rockwell Commander Pilot (N111HY): The pilot, aged 72, held a PPL(A) with 900 total flight hours, of which 843 were on type. His license and medical certificate were valid.
Tower Controller: Aged 35, held an EU ATCO license with aerodrome control and approach surveillance ratings. All endorsements were valid.
Supervisor: Aged 37, held an EU ATCO license with similar ratings and an instructor endorsement.
Aircraft Information
The Beechcraft 1900D (CS-TMU, serial number EU-335) was a twin-engine turboprop with maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) of 7,765 kg, powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-67D engines.
The Rockwell Commander (N111HY, serial number 14569) was a two-seat aircraft with a Lycoming IO-540 engine and McCauley propeller, MTOW 1,474 kg.
Airspace and Procedures
Málaga Airport is located in class D airspace. The control zone (CTR) extends from the surface. VFR flights required clearance from Approach Control and had to use designated corridors. Visual approach charts specified minimum altitudes, such as 500 ft AGL along the coast between reporting points PE-1 and PS-1.
Pilot Reports
The Beechcraft captain reported taking off from runway 13, climbing at 1,500–2,000 ft at 160 KIAS with a climb rate of 1,500 ft/min. The TCAS traffic advisory was not accompanied by other alerts, so they continued without evasive maneuvers.
The Rockwell Commander pilot reported a local VFR flight from La Axarquia aerodrome along the coast at 1,000 ft in CAVOK conditions. He contacted the tower over PS1 and requested clearance to cross the runway to PE1. He was cleared to proceed to PE1. While approaching the runway centerline, he heard the TAP aircraft report a small airplane close below. He immediately turned left. The controller later contacted him; the pilot believed no permission was needed to cross the centerline if cleared to PE1. The supervisor advised contacting the controller as often as needed.
Controller Report
The tower controller stated that the VFR flight was transferred from Approach before reaching PS1. The pilot was instructed to continue along the coast and informed of VFR traffic in opposite direction. The pilot reported the traffic in sight. Then TAP1075 was cleared to take off from runway 13.