What happened
On August 7, 2009, a student pilot was conducting a solo cross-country flight for training purposes, flying a route from Michałków to Turek and back. The flight, performed in a SZD-30 Pirat with registration SP-2717, began under favorable weather conditions. However, as the pilot returned toward the home aerodrome, thermal lift conditions deteriorated near the village of Gadów.
Unable to maintain altitude, the pilot decided to perform an unplanned landing in an open field. After circling the area to inspect the landing site, the pilot initiated a landing pattern from an altitude of approximately 300 meters. During the final approach, the pilot flew at a speed of about 100 km/h with airbrakes extended. As the glider passed through a gap in roadside trees at an altitude of only a few meters, it struck low-voltage power lines situated approximately 8 meters above the ground. The impact caused the glider to snag the wires, which subsequently broke. The aircraft then struck the plowed earth approximately 30 meters from the power lines. The pilot escaped the aircraft without injury.
The investigation
The PKBWL investigation examined the flight data from a Volkslogger device, the aircraft's maintenance history, and the pilot's training records. The investigation focused on the visibility of the power lines and the pilot's approach path. It was noted that the power line poles were obscured by roadside trees, making the wires difficult to detect from the air. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's experience, noting that this was the pilot's first time performing an off-field landing.
Findings
- The pilot failed to accurately identify the landing site, specifically failing to notice the power lines while inspecting the field.
- The approach to the landing was poorly planned, as the pilot flew too low over a road where terrain obstacles were present.
- The overhead power lines were not detected during the final approach due to them being visually obscured by trees and blending into the landscape.
- The pilot's lack of experience with off-field landings contributed to the error.
- The placement of the power line poles behind trees made the wires significantly harder to spot.