What happened
On February 9, 2003, a Zlin 142, registration OK-ONR, operated by Bemoair s.r.o., repeatedly entered the LK P5 restricted airspace near Prčice. The aircraft was conducting a training flight consisting of spin maneuvers, departing from Benešov / Nesvačily (LKBE).
During the flight, the instructor was required to intervene several times to ensure the successful recovery of the spins. Following these maneuvers, the instructor focused on explaining the student's errors during the subsequent climb. This shift in focus led to the aircraft drifting into the restricted area at an altitude of approximately 300 m AGL. The crew was unaware of the airspace violation until they returned to LKBE, where the pilot noticed a military fighter aircraft flying nearby. Upon landing, the AFIS controller informed the pilot of the breach and instructed them to contact the Air Traffic Control center of the Czech Air Force.
The investigation
The ÚZPLN investigation established that the flight was conducted in a designated working area south of LKBE, as recommended by the AFIS controller to minimize noise impact. The investigation reviewed the flight preparation, the technical status of the aircraft, and the meteorological conditions, which were favorable with good visibility and no turbulence.
Findings
- The primary cause of the repeated airspace violation was the unilateral focus of the instructor on the training task, which resulted in inadequate monitoring of the aircraft's position.
- A contributing factor was the underestimation of the navigational situation, stemming from the crew's routine familiarity with the local area.
- Meteorological conditions, the technical condition of the aircraft, and pre-flight preparations had no impact on the incident.