Incident Overview
On February 20, 2008, at 12:47 UTC, a Tecnam P92-JS with registration OK-RWY, operated by F AIR, spol. s r.o., entered the activated temporary restricted area (TSA) 20 without authorization. The incident occurred approximately 8 kilometers southwest of Chotěboř. The aircraft was conducting a banner tow flight along a route from Benešov to Litomyšl and back.
Operational Context
The pilot-in-command, a 23-year-old female holding a Commercial Pilot License (CPL(A)), took off from Benešov at 11:59 UTC. At 12:19 UTC, while over Vlašim, she contacted MACC Prague to inquire about the activation status of TSA 26 and TSA 27. She was informed that these specific areas were not active. Consequently, she proceeded along a route intended to avoid the Čáslav Military Control Traffic Region (MCTR), flying at an altitude below 300 meters above ground level.
Investigation Findings
The investigation revealed that the pilot failed to identify TSA 20 during pre-flight planning due to inattention while using a 1:500,000 scale map. She was unaware that her intended route intersected with this restricted zone. Radar data indicated the aircraft flew at approximately 800 feet AGL just before entering TSA 20. The air traffic control (ATC) personnel at MACC Prague and APP Čáslav monitored the unknown traffic via radar but did not establish two-way radio communication with the aircraft. APP Čáslav delayed the takeoff of military aircraft to maintain separation, preventing any conflict.
Conclusions and Safety Assessment
The joint investigation committee concluded that the primary cause was the pilot's insufficient pre-flight preparation regarding airspace reservations. The pilot did not inquire about TSA 20 because she did not realize her route intersected it. No injuries or damage to the aircraft were reported. The incident was classified as a "Significant Incident" under Regulation L13, specifically categorized as an Airspace Infringement. No safety recommendations were issued by the Institute for Professional Investigation of Causes of Aviation Accidents (ÚZPLN) as the situation remained under ATC control.