What happened
The incident occurred when a glider touched down on an active runway, at which point the right wing struck a cyclist who was present on the surface. The pilot had conducted a prelanding checklist prior to the approach, which included a visual inspection to confirm that the runway was clear of any objects or obstructions.
However, the landing was performed directly into the setting sun, creating significant glare and reducing visibility. As a result, the pilot did not see the cyclist until after the landing gear had already made contact with the runway. Upon realizing the presence of the cyclist, the pilot attempted to maneuver the glider away from the person on the ground, but this effort was unsuccessful.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sequence of events leading up to and during the landing. It confirmed that a standard prelanding checklist was executed, including the visual check for runway clearance. The primary factor identified was the pilot's failure to detect the cyclist due to the challenging lighting conditions caused by landing into the sun.
Findings
The collision was primarily attributed to the pilot's failure to see and avoid the cyclist on the active runway. Contributing factors included the glare from the setting sun which impaired visual detection during the critical phase of landing, and the presence of a person on an active runway area where such activity is typically prohibited or highly restricted.
Safety message
Pilots should be aware that even with completed checklists, visual scanning for obstacles can be compromised by environmental factors such as low sun angles. Runway incursions remain a serious hazard, and pilots must maintain heightened situational awareness during all phases of flight, especially when landing in challenging lighting conditions.