What happened
On January 26, 2004, at 08:52 UTC, an AIRBALTIC Fokker 50 operating flight BTI 281 was landing on runway 24 at Prague Ruzyně Airport (LKPR). Following the landing and deceleration, the air traffic controller instructed the crew to "vacate second left" via taxiway D.
Upon receiving this instruction, the crew mistakenly exited runway 24 and entered runway 13. The crew subsequently realized the error and requested permission to use runway 13. The tower granted permission to proceed via taxiway F, which the crew confirmed.
The investigation
The ÚZPLN investigation utilized radar animations and radio communication recordings to reconstruct the aircraft's movement after landing. The investigation also reviewed meteorological data, which indicated overcast conditions with low cloud bases (100–200 feet) and haze, though visibility remained sufficient for daytime operations. The investigation examined the taxiway markings and the specific configuration of the runway intersection involving runways 24 and 31.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was the crew's incorrect exit from runway 24 onto runway 13.
- The horizontal markings at the intersection of runways 24 and 31, combined with the vertical markings of taxiway D, contributed to the error.
- The specific layout of the taxiway system and the intersection of the runways created a potential for confusion during the taxi phase.