Edelweiss A333 at Zurich on Aug 25th 2016, near collision with private aircraft crossing localizer

Last Update: February 28, 2018 / 16:16:40 GMT/Zulu time

Bookmark this article
Incident Facts

Date of incident
Aug 25, 2016

Classification
Incident

Cause
Near collision

Airline
Edelweiss Air

Flight number
WK-3

Departure
Las Vegas, United States

Destination
Zurich, Switzerland

Aircraft Registration
HB-JHR

Aircraft Type
Airbus A330-300

ICAO Type Designator
A333

An Edelweiss Airbus A330-300, registration HB-JHR performing flight WK-3 from Las Vegas,NV (USA) to Zurich (Switzerland), was on final approach to Zurich's runway 14 about 12nm out at 5000 feet MSL about to intercept the glideslope when a private aircraft, a motor glider, crossed the approach path without clearance. The A330 continued for a safe landing. After landing, while vacating the runway, tower queried the crew about a possible intruder they had observed on their radar about 8nm out, the crew confirmed there had been a propeller aircraft crossing right in front of them about 300 feet above them.

Tower subsequently advised departing aircraft they were monitoring the intruder and halting departures to make sure no further conflict would arise, subsequently reported they had lost the target from their radar screen while the target was northbound. After releasing the next departure the target appeared again on the radar screen, now southbound, the departure advised they were able to see the intruder at their 11 o'clock position, it was a motor glider aircraft.

On Sep 8th 2016 Switzerland's SUST reported there had been a dangerous closure in the approach of runway 14 about 12nm northwest of the aerodrome. The private aircraft, a Scheibe Flugzeugbau SF25 registration D-KOWC, was enroute from Bad Dürkheim [EDRF] to Biberach [EDMB] (Germany). The occurrence was rated a serious incident and is being investigated.

On Feb 28th 2018 the SUST released their final report in German concluding the probable causes of the serious incident were:

The serious incident during which a dangerous closure between an airliner in instrument approach and a motor glider in visual enroute flight, is to be attributed to a navigational error by the pilot of the motor glider, who without communication with ATC and with turned off transponder entered an approach sector of Zurich Airport. Due to the inactive transponder all safety nets were ineffective.

The little experience by the motor glider pilot contributed to the serious incident.

The SUST reported the private pilot (69) had begun his pilot training in 2006 and held a pilot license for sail planes with rating for motor gliders according to EASA. He had a total experience of 256 flight hours with 76 hours experience on the occurrence aircraft type. There were no indications of fatigue/tiredness involved.

The SUST analysed that D-KOWC had planned to fly from Bad Dürkheim to Konstanz [EDTZ] and then continue to Biberach. During the flight the VHF radio failed due to a generator circuit breaker, which shut down the bord electric supply. The pilot therefore decided to divert to Bremgarten [EDTG], where the aircraft landed without further incident. The battery was charged for about 90 minutes, no further analysis of the reasons of power failure were made. The aircraft departed Bremgarten and was enroute about 13km south of Schluchsee when the generator circuit breaker tripped again when the pilot attempted to establish radio contact with Zurich Information at 124.700MHz. The pilot turned off the transponder to reduce power consumption while attempting the reset the circuit breaker in order to maintain radio communication. When the tablet computer on board failed the only remaining means of navigation were a compass and the ICAO chart of Stuttgart region. While in the region of Koblenz in hazy conditions the pilot confused the Zurichsee, visible in the distance, with Lake Konstanz as well as the Greifensee with the Überlingersee and flew directly towards the Zurichsee. At about that time HB-JHR was vectored onto final approach for Zurich's runway 14. The air traffic controller observed a primary radar target, that became visible now and then, that approximately followed the localizer beam runway 14, and advised HB-JHR about that target in a traffic information. The crew of HB-JHR established visual contact with the traffic and advised ATC the traffic appeared to be at 5300 feet, a propeller aircraft, red and blue with white livery. HB-JHR continued the approach without executing an evasive maneouver. In the following the separation between the aircraft reduced to 300 meters horizontal at the same altitude. The A330 continued the approach and landed about 5 minutes later without further incident. D-KOWC continued on a southsoutheasterly heading and approached the approach sector runway 28 at about 5000 feet prompting ATC to interrupt all operations on runway 28. After reaching the Zurichsee D-KOWC turned towards northeast towards Lake Konstanz and landed safely in Biberach.

The SUST commented that the decision to turn off the transponder in favour of maintaining radio contact and reduce power consumption was reasonable in technical respect, as the only consumers on the electric supply were radio and transponder. However, as the pilot did not establish radio contact with Zurich Information reasoning that without transponder establishing radio contact did not make any sense, too, Zurich ATC was not able to identify the aircraft, its altitude and establish radio contact. In addition neither TCAS nor Short Term Conflict Alert on the radar were available. ATC did not attempt to contact the aircraft on 121.500 MHz(emergency frequncy). It was not unusual that an aircraft passed underneath the approach sector without transponder. The traffic advisories to the A330 were farsighted as was the stop of all operations on runway 28 when D-KOWC neared the approach sector runway 28.

The SUST analysed that in the hazy conditions it was possible that an inexperienced pilot not knowing the area could confuse Lake Konstanz and Zurichsee. Due to the distraction with the recurring triggering circuit breaker and excessive charging current the pilot missed to verify his course in southsoutheasterly direction according to the available chart and compass which caused the aircraft to basically track along the localizer runway 14. The SUST annotated that even after he noticed his error he did not contact Zurich Information and stated this did not demonstrate safety conscience. In the following the pilot also did not report the occurrence after landing or the following days.

There were no safety recommendations as result of the investigation.
Aircraft Registration Data
Registration mark
HB-JHR
Country of Registration
Switzerland
Date of Registration
Eklpmemcdfjf p Subscribe to unlock
Certification Basis
Feiefd Subscribe to unlock
Airworthyness Category
GlkhAmhmeklgngcn Subscribe to unlock
Legal Basis
Ahfk Subscribe to unlock
TCDS Ident. No.
Fnkqflgmjn Subscribe to unlock
Manufacturer
AIRBUS S.A.S.
Aircraft Model / Type
A330-343
ICAO Aircraft Type
A333
Year of Manufacture
Fkdd Subscribe to unlock
Serial Number
Dk f Subscribe to unlock
Aircraft Address / Mode S Code (HEX)
Fpqfdd Subscribe to unlock
Max. Operational Passenger Seating Capacity (MOPSC), indicative
Ppc Subscribe to unlock
Minimum Crew
H Subscribe to unlock
Maximum Take off Mass (MTOM) [kg]
Gkgbbb Subscribe to unlock
Engine Count
G Subscribe to unlock
Engine
Qhhnifn jfgAAnqbefqjjiAcAjjkjcdgme Subscribe to unlock
Main Owner
F Subscribe to unlock
Incident Facts

Date of incident
Aug 25, 2016

Classification
Incident

Cause
Near collision

Airline
Edelweiss Air

Flight number
WK-3

Departure
Las Vegas, United States

Destination
Zurich, Switzerland

Aircraft Registration
HB-JHR

Aircraft Type
Airbus A330-300

ICAO Type Designator
A333

This article is published under license from Avherald.com. © of text by Avherald.com.
Article source

You can read 2 more free articles without a subscription.

Subscribe now and continue reading without any limits!

Subscribe now
Are you a subscriber? Login
Subscribe

Read unlimited articles and receive our daily update briefing. Gain better insights into what is happening in commercial aviation safety.

Compare our plans

Send tip

Support AeroInside by sending a small tip amount.

Send tip

Related articles

Newest articles

Subscribe today

Are you researching aviation incidents? Get access to AeroInside Insights, unlimited read access and receive the daily newsletter.

Pick your plan and subscribe

Partner

Blockaviation logo

A new way to document and demonstrate airworthiness compliance and aircraft value. Find out more.

ELITE Logo

ELITE Simulation Solutions is a leading global provider of Flight Simulation Training Devices, IFR training software as well as flight controls and related services. Find out more.

Blue Altitude Logo

Your regulation partner, specialists in aviation safety and compliance; providing training, auditing, and consultancy services. Find out more.

AeroInside Blog
Popular aircraft
Airbus A320
Boeing 737-800
Boeing 737-800 MAX
Popular airlines
American Airlines
United
Delta
Air Canada
Lufthansa
British Airways