Accident Overview
On 7 August 2009, at approximately 17:45 local time, a SZD-30 Pirat glider (registration SP-2717) operated by Aeroklub Ostrowski sustained serious damage after striking a power line during a forced landing near Gadów, Poland. The pilot, an 18-year-old student flying solo, was uninjured.
Sequence of Events
The student pilot arrived at Michałków airfield around 08:00 to conduct a cross-country flight. After a brief briefing by the chief of training, he departed at 12:52 on a winch launch behind a tow aircraft from runway 11. The tow was uneventful, and he released at approximately 800 m. He then flew the planned route: Michałków–Turek–Michałków. He reached the turn point at Turek at 17:12. On the return, thermal conditions deteriorated, and around 1000 m he lost lift. Circling near the village of Gadów, he selected a field for landing. He entered a circuit from 300 m, extended airbrakes on final approach, and maintained about 100 km/h. While descending, his glider struck a low-voltage power line at a height of approximately 8 m, then hit the ground about 30 m beyond the line. The pilot reported he did not see the wires because they blended with the terrain and the poles were hidden behind roadside trees. He had not observed any obstacles during his inspection of the field. He exited the glider unaided.
Aircraft and Pilot Information
The glider, an SZD-30 Pirat manufactured in 1974 by WSK Świdnik, had accumulated 2,981 hours and 40 minutes total flight time and 91 hours 7 minutes since its last inspection. It held a valid Certificate of Airworthiness and a current Airworthiness Review Certificate. The student pilot had a total of 62 hours and 1 minute (136 flights) on gliders, including 41 hours 32 minutes (42 flights) solo. He had 38 hours 48 minutes on type. He possessed a valid Class 2 medical certificate and had completed theoretical and initial practical training. Weather conditions were good with high cloud base and easterly wind of 3–4 m/s; weather was not considered a factor.
Investigation Findings
The investigation determined that the glider struck a power line running across the field, perpendicular to the landing direction. The pilot had not seen the wires during his approach. The glider was seriously damaged: the horizontal stabilizer and part of the vertical stabilizer were torn off, the forward fiberglass fuselage was destroyed, the canopy was shattered, and other components were damaged. The pilot's blood alcohol test was negative. The flight lasted 4 hours 53 minutes.