Near Collision at East London Aerodrome After Pilot Misinterprets ATC Instructions

Casualties unknown • East London Aerodrome, ZA

A training flight and a commercial Boeing 737 narrowly avoided a mid-air collision at East London Aerodrome after a student pilot performed an incorrect turn.

What happened

On the morning of 25 August 2021, a serious incident occurred at East London Aerodrome (FAEL) involving two aircraft on simultaneous approaches to Runway 11. The first aircraft, a Boeing 737-400 with registration ZS-JRE, was operating a scheduled commercial flight from Cape Town. The second aircraft, a Piper PA-28R-200 with registration ZS-PTV, was conducting a solo student training flight.

As the ZS-JRE was established on an instrument landing system (ILS) approach, the air traffic control officer (ATCO) instructed the student pilot in the ZS-PTV to turn right and head north to maintain separation from the commercial airliner's flight path. However, the student pilot misinterpreted the instruction and executed a left turn instead. This maneuver directed the training aircraft directly across the final approach path of the ZS-JRE.

As the two aircraft converged, the crew of the ZS-JRE received a Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) Traffic Advisory (TA) alert. At the point of closest proximity, the aircraft were separated by approximately 200 feet vertically and 0.2 nautical miles horizontally. The ZS-JRE landed safely, and the ZS-PTV subsequently completed a touch-and-go landing without further incident. No injuries or aircraft damage were reported.

The investigation

An investigation by the SACAA AIID examined radio communications and air traffic control sequences. The inquiry established that the student pilot initially provided an incorrect readback of the ATCO's instructions. Although the ATCO repeated the instruction and the student pilot then provided a correct readback, the aircraft proceeded to execute the wrong turn (left instead of right).

Findings

  • The primary cause of the loss of minimum separation was the student pilot's failure to execute the ATCO's instruction to turn right.
  • A contributing factor was the ATCO's failure to correct the student pilot's initial incorrect readback, which allowed the erroneous maneuver to proceed.
  • The student pilot's deviation from the assigned flight path led to a significant reduction in vertical and horizontal separation between the two aircraft.

Probable cause

The loss of minimum separation occurred because the student pilot executed a left turn instead of the instructed right turn, compounded by the air traffic controller's failure to rectify an incorrect readback.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2021-08-25 Piper PA-28R-200 & Boeing 737-400 accident near East London Aerodrome, ZA?

A training flight and a commercial Boeing 737 narrowly avoided a mid-air collision at East London Aerodrome after a student pilot performed an incorrect turn.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2021-08-25 involved a Piper PA-28R-200 & Boeing 737-400, registration ZS-PTV & ZS-JRE, at East London Aerodrome, ZA.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The loss of minimum separation occurred because the student pilot executed a left turn instead of the instructed right turn, compounded by the air traffic controller's failure to rectify an incorrect readback.

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