What happened
On August 28, 2009, a SZD-50-3 Puchacz glider was conducting a training flight near the EPBC aerodrome. The flight was intended to teach a 16-year-old student pilot how to recover from various dangerous flight conditions, including spins, spirals, and stalls. The flight began normally, with the takeoff and the execution of the training maneuvers performed correctly.
Upon completing the training tasks, the glider joined the aerodrome traffic pattern on the downwind leg. Witnesses observed the aircraft flying at a reduced speed. Shortly thereafter, at an altitude of approximately 220–250 meters, the glider entered a right-hand spin. The crew attempted a recovery, which initially succeeded after about three-quarters of a turn, transitioning into a steep climb. However, due to a loss of airspeed, the glider entered a second right-hand spin. After approximately one full turn in this second spin, the rotation stopped, and the aircraft entered a steep dive. The glider struck the ground at an estimated impact angle of 80 degrees in an allotment garden area. Both the instructor and the student pilot sustained fatal injuries at the scene.
The investigation
The PKBWL examined the wreckage of the SZD-50-3 Puchacz both at the site and during subsequent inspections. The investigation confirmed that all control systems were functional and no mechanical failures were found that could have contributed to the accident. The investigation also verified that both the student and the instructor held valid medical certificates and appropriate flight qualifications. The instructor had approximately 1,555 hours of solo flight time.
Because no technical malfunctions were identified, the commission conducted an in-depth analysis of the instructor's health status. This analysis involved reviewing protected medical data to determine if a sudden physiological event could have influenced the flight path.
Findings
- The investigation could not determine the exact cause of the accident with absolute certainty.
- There was no evidence of mechanical failure or malfunction in the aircraft's control systems.
- The commission could not rule out a sudden medical event affecting the instructor, such as angina, hypoglycemia, or an episode of fainting/loss of consciousness, which may have led to the loss of control and the subsequent sequence of spins and the final dive.