What happened
On an unspecified date in 2021, a training flight involving a Reims Aviation S.A. F152, registration PH-ACH, was involved in a serious incident at Breda International Airport. Due to changing wind conditions and approaching showers, the airport operations manager had decided to switch the active runway from 24 to 06.
While the airport operations manager was physically changing ground markings, an instructor was communicating the runway change via radio. The instructor of a solo trainee (flying a PH-BAG) announced the switch to PH-ACH. Despite this, the pilot of PH-ACH continued taxiing toward Runway 24 and proceeded to take off from the decommissioned runway. Simultaneously, the trainee in PH-BAG was rejoining the circuit for Runway 06. To prevent a collision, the instructor of the trainee had to command a left turn and an extended downwind leg to avoid the departing PH-ACH.
The investigation — what OVV examined and established
The investigation examined the radio communications and the actions of both flight crews. It was established that the instructor of PH-ACH heard the radio communications regarding the trainee but did not hear the specific call from the airport operations manager regarding the runway change. The instructor of PH and ACH was motivated by a desire to depart before the incoming weather arrived and believed that since the trainee had not yet entered the circuit, there was sufficient separation to operate safely.
Findings
- The pilot of PH-ACH failed to comply with the instruction to wait for line-up.
- The pilot of PH-ACH took off from the wrong runway (Runway 24) after the airport had officially transitioned to Runway 06.
- The incident created a situation where both aircraft were forced to perform evasive maneuvers to maintain separation.