Experimental Aircraft Enters Prague TMA Without Coordination

Casualties unknown • TMA ll Praha, CZ

An experimental Cozy Mark IV aircraft entered the Prague TMA airspace without a flight plan or prior coordination with air traffic services.

What happened

On May 10, 2006, at approximately 07:48 UTC, the pilot of an experimental Cozy Mark IV, registration N2075V, contacted Praha Info to announce the start of a flight. The pilot reported departing from Líně (LKLN) and traveling toward Mošnov (LKMT), with intentions to fly around the LKR airspace and proceed toward Ostrava.

During the communication, Air Traffic Control (ATC) informed the pilot of several active airspaces, including Chornice and various Temporary Segregated Areas (TSA 20 through TSA 24). The pilot expressed an assumption that ATC would provide vectors for the flight, a premise that ATC explicitly rejected, stating they would not provide vectors. The pilot acknowledged the instruction to avoid these controlled areas and noted an intention to switch to local military frequencies for further coordination.

At 08:02 UTC, while the aircraft was at an altitude of 3,500 ft, ATC identified that the aircraft had entered the Prague TMA. The controller notified the pilot of the airspace infringement and ordered an immediate descent to 3,000 ft. The pilot confirmed they had not coordinated this altitude with Approach (APP) services.

The investigation

The ÚZPLN investigation examined the radio communications and radar data related to the incident. The investigation established that the flight was conducted under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) in favorable weather conditions. The investigation also noted that the aircraft was operating with squawk code 7000. Due to the aircraft's altitude, the radar return was intermittent, which prevented ATC from identifying the potential airspace infringement in a timely manner.

Findings

The pilot entered controlled airspace without having filed a flight plan.
The pilot entered the controlled airspace without prior coordination with the appropriate ATS unit.
The pilot incorrectly assumed that ATC would provide navigation vectors through the controlled airspace.
The intermittent radar return caused by the aircraft's altitude hindered the early detection of the infringement by ATC.

Probable cause

The primary cause of the airspace infringement was the pilot's failure to coordinate the flight with ATC and the lack of a filed flight plan prior to entering the Prague TMA.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2006-05-10 COZY MARK lV accident near TMA ll Praha, CZ?

An experimental Cozy Mark IV aircraft entered the Prague TMA airspace without a flight plan or prior coordination with air traffic services.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2006-05-10 involved a COZY MARK lV, at TMA ll Praha, CZ.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The primary cause of the airspace infringement was the pilot's failure to coordinate the flight with ATC and the lack of a filed flight plan prior to entering the Prague TMA.

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