Separation Infraction Near Malmö/Sturup Airport

Casualties unknown • Infraction of minimum separation between the aircraft G-KATA and OY-CNP in the airspace above Malmö/Sturup, SE

A Diamond aircraft climbed into controlled airspace, nearly violating minimum separation with an Airbus A320 during an approach to Malmö/Sturup.

What happened

On August 22, 2002, a private flight involving a Diamond aircraft, registration G-KATA, entered controlled airspace without authorization near Malmö/Sturup airport. The pilot had been cleared to a maximum altitude of 1,500 feet for departure. However, while the pilot was preoccupied with studying the cockpit instrumentation, the aircraft continued to climb at a rate of approximately 500 feet per minute.

Simultaneously, an Airbus A320-212, registration OY-CNP, was performing an instrument approach to runway 17 and had been cleared to descend to 3,000 feet. As the G-KATA climbed through its assigned ceiling, it reached 2,500 feet within the controlled zone. The two aircraft came within a horizontal distance of approximately 130 meters and a vertical separation of 420 meters.

The investigation

The Swedish Accident Investigation Board (SHK) determined that the pilot of G-KATA was unaccustomed to the specific aircraft type and its performance characteristics. The investigation found that the pilot's attention was focused on the aircraft's controls and instruments rather than flight monitoring, leading him to believe he had leveled off at the permitted altitude when he had actually continued to climb.

Crucially, the investigation established that the OY-CNP crew did not receive any alert from their Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS). This occurred because the pilot of G-KATA had the transponder set to Mode A, which provided a radar echo to air traffic control but failed to transmit altitude information. Without altitude reporting, the collision avoidance system could not calculate the risk of conflict.

Findings

  • The pilot of G-KATA failed to monitor the aircraft's altitude, allowing it to climb 1,000 feet above the cleared limit.
  • The G-KATA transponder was not set to a mode including altitude reporting, which prevented the TCAS on OY-CNP from issuing a warning.
  • The pilot's limited experience with the aircraft's cockpit layout and performance contributed to the lack of situational awareness.
  • At the time of the incident, local aeronautical regulations allowed for VFR flights to operate without altitude reporting under certain conditions, a practice that limited the effectiveness of air traffic control's conflict warning systems.

Probable cause

The incident was caused by the pilot of G-KATA failing to adequately monitor the aircraft's altitude, compounded by his lack of familiarity with the aircraft type.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2002-08-22 aircraft accident near Infraction of minimum separation between the aircraft G-KATA and OY-CNP in the airspace above Malmö/Sturup, SE?

A Diamond aircraft climbed into controlled airspace, nearly violating minimum separation with an Airbus A320 during an approach to Malmö/Sturup.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2002-08-22 involved a aircraft, registration G-KATA, at Infraction of minimum separation between the aircraft G-KATA and OY-CNP in the airspace above Malmö/Sturup, SE.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The incident was caused by the pilot of G-KATA failing to adequately monitor the aircraft's altitude, compounded by his lack of familiarity with the aircraft type.

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