Incident Overview
On November 2, 2018, at approximately 16:00 UTC, an incident occurred involving a Cessna 172S with registration OK-FCA. The aircraft was operating under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) when the pilot experienced repeated difficulties during landing attempts at LKPM (Příbram). Due to deteriorating light conditions after sunset and multiple unsuccessful approaches, the pilot contacted the Flight Information Centre (FIC) Prague for assistance.
Operational Context
The pilot, a 35-year-old male holding a Private Pilot Licence (PPL(A)), had recently completed night flying training on October 7 and 8, 2018. Although he possessed the practical skills for night VFR operations, his licence did not yet reflect the formal NIGHT qualification at the time of the incident. The flight was intended as a navigational exercise from LKPM to LKBE and LKTC before returning to LKPM.
Sequence of Events
The pilot departed LKPM at 15:04 UTC. Upon returning to LKPM, he attempted to land on Runway 06R three times between 15:42 and 15:53 UTC. Each attempt ended in a go-around due to high flares or bounces. Subsequently, he switched to Runway 24L for two more attempts at 15:58 and 16:04 UTC, both of which also resulted in go-arounds as the pilot struggled with height judgment during twilight.
After failing to land, the pilot contacted FIC Prague on 126.100 MHz. The dispatcher advised him to divert to LKPR (Prague/Ruzyně), the nearest airport capable of handling night operations. Following recommended headings and altitude adjustments to avoid terrain in the Brdy hills, the pilot navigated to waypoint ECHO and successfully landed on Runway 30 at LKPR at 16:29 UTC using visual aids.
Investigation Findings
The investigation was conducted by the Institute for Professional Investigation of Causes of Aviation Accidents (ÚZPLN) in accordance with EU Regulation 996/2010. The primary factors contributing to the incident were the pilot's difficulty in judging height during low-light conditions and the lack of formal night qualification recorded on his licence, despite having recent training.