Fatal accident involving Virus SW ultralight aircraft near Góra Kalwaria

Casualties unknown • Wincentów / Góra Kalwaria, PL

A recreational flight ended in a fatal accident near Wincentów, Poland, when an ultralight aircraft struck the ground with excessive speed during landing.

What happened

On May 24, 2011, an ultralight Virus SW aircraft departed from a landing field in Wincentów, near Góra Kalwaria, for a planned sightseeing flight. The flight proceeded without incident until the landing phase.

During the approach to runway 19, the pilot maintained a speed of 50 knots with full flaps and aerodynamic brakes in the neutral position, while applying full throttle. Immediately after leveling off, the aircraft pitched forward abruptly, causing the nose gear to strike the ground. The impact occurred approximately one-third of the way down the grass runway. The force of the impact caused the wheel and fork to break away from the nose gear, leading to a violent deceleration and the eventual inversion of the aircraft. The accident resulted in one fatality (the pilot) and one injury (the passenger, who sustained minor injuries).

The investigation

The PKBWL investigation examined the flight parameters during the final approach, the configuration of the aircraft's flaps and brakes, and the physical damage sustained by the landing gear and airframe following the impact on the grass surface.

Probable cause

The aircraft landed at an excessive speed, causing the nose gear to strike the ground and leading to a structural failure of the landing gear and the subsequent inversion of the aircraft.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2011-05-24 Virus SW accident near Wincentów / Góra Kalwaria, PL?

A recreational flight ended in a fatal accident near Wincentów, Poland, when an ultralight aircraft struck the ground with excessive speed during landing.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2011-05-24 involved a Virus SW, at Wincentów / Góra Kalwaria, PL.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The aircraft landed at an excessive speed, causing the nose gear to strike the ground and leading to a structural failure of the landing gear and the subsequent inversion of the aircraft.

Investigation report by the Polish State Commission on Aircraft Accidents Investigation (PKBWL). Original record: https://pkbwl.gov.pl/raporty/2011-0504/. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the Panstwowa Komisja Badania Wypadkow Lotniczych (PKBWL), Poland.

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