E170 / C525, en-route, south of Auxerre France, 2022

E170 / C525, en-route, south of Auxerre France, 2022

Summary

On 12 January 2022, an Embraer 170 and a Cessna 525 crossed tracks without the prescribed minimum separation, with neither ATC nor the Embraer crew being aware. Although ATC had issued acknowledged clearances to keep the Embraer 1,000 feet above the Cessna, it actually passed beneath it, violating minimum lateral separation. The underlying cause of the event was found to be an unrectified recurrent intermittent fault in one of the Cessna’s air data systems. Poor Cessna crew/controller communication during the event, systemically poor safety culture at its operator, and shortcomings in the Textron Aircraft Maintenance Manual were considered contributory.

Description

On 12 January 2022, an Embraer 170 (F-HBXG) operated by Air France subsidiary ‘HOP!’ on a scheduled domestic passenger flight from Lyon to Caen as AF1672, and a Cessna 525 (F-HGPG) operated by Valljet on a nonscheduled passenger flight from Paris Le Bourget to Geneva came into close vertical proximity in day VMC whilst on crossing tracks. The Embraer pilots did not see the other aircraft they passed beneath and no proximity warnings were annunciated on board the Embraer or at the ACC which was providing control service. The Cessna pilots were aware of discrepancies between the left and right side airspeed and altitude displays prior to the conflict, but did not fully advise ATC of the extent of these discrepancies until after the loss of separation had occurred. Once they had identified which displays were correct and advised ATC, the remainder of the flight was completed without further event.

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