Incident Overview
On December 17, 2010, at approximately 09:30 UTC, a ground collision occurred at Prague/Ruzyně Airport (LKPR). The aircraft involved was a Bombardier Aerospace Canadair CL-600-2C10 Regional Jet CRJ-701ER, registered as D-ACPE and operated by Lufthansa Regional (Lufthansa City Line). During the event, the left winglet of the aircraft collided with the basket of a de-icing vehicle located at the de-icing stand.
Operational Context
The flight crew requested taxi clearance from the de-icing area back to the parking stand due to winter maintenance activities on the active runway. Air Traffic Control (ATC) issued the taxi clearance using standard phraseology. The crew initiated taxiing without coordinating with ground personnel. During this maneuver, the left winglet struck the de-icing equipment.
Investigation Findings
The investigation was conducted by the Institute for Professional Investigation of Causes of Aviation Accidents (ÚZPLN). Key findings indicated that while the pilots held valid licenses and medical certificates, they failed to coordinate with the ramp agent before moving. The ramp agent had placed a chock under the nose gear and departed to retrieve information, leaving no visual signal for the aircraft to hold position. The de-icing operator on the left side attempted to raise the basket to avoid contact but was unable to prevent the collision.
Consequences and Cause
No injuries were reported among the crew or ground staff. The primary damage was sustained by the left winglet of the CL-600; no damage was reported to the de-icing vehicle. The aircraft was subsequently towed to stand 54 for inspection and was declared unfit for further flight. The probable cause was identified as a failure in human factors, specifically the lack of coordination between the flight crew and ground operations personnel.