What happened
On August 16, 2003, a Moravan Z-43, registration OK-WOC, was conducting a flight training mission from Hodkovice. The flight, which included an instructor, a student, and one passenger, was scheduled to visit several airfields including Kolín. Upon arrival at Kolín, the crew established contact with AFIS, though radio communications were partially disrupted due to high traffic volume.
The AFIS controller informed the crew that runway 21 was in use with a left-hand pattern and noted that parachutists were currently landing at the airfield. During the final stages of the landing approach, while the aircraft was approximately 3 to 5 meters above the ground, a parachutist appeared directly in the aircraft's path.
To avoid a collision, the instructor executed an evasive maneuver, attempting to fly over the obstacle to initiate a go-around. During this maneuver, the aircraft lost airspeed and the landing gear struck the ground. Following the impact, the aircraft continued its flight, but the pilot discovered that the throttle lever had become jammed. The pilot managed to complete the circuit and land safely by using the ignition switch to control engine power.
The investigation
The ÚZPLN investigation established that the pilot held the appropriate qualifications and medical certification. The aircraft was maintained according to regulations and was in airworthy condition prior to the flight. The investigation focused on the presence of obstacles on the runway and the pilot's decision-making process during the approach.
Findings
- The pilot incorrectly decided to continue the landing maneuver despite the known presence of parachutists and obstacles on runway 21.
- Radio communications were partially obscured by heavy traffic, which may have impacted the clarity of the information received.
- The aircraft sustained moderate damage, specifically to the nose gear strut assembly.