What happened
On August 17, 2012, a solo training flight was conducted at the Słupsk Krępa aerodrome. The student pilot was performing a solo flight as part of a training syllabus focused on thermal flight preparation and landing techniques. Prior to this solo flight, the pilot had completed several successful flights in a dual-seat configuration with an instructor.
The flight proceeded normally through the takeoff and circuit phases. During the final approach, the pilot maintained the correct airspeed and heading, intending to land between the lower limit and the runway centerline. However, the pilot failed to execute the flare maneuver and did not respond to a radio instruction from the instructor to "Flare!". As a result, the SZD-5 and0-3 Puchacz made contact with the ground on both the main and nose wheels simultaneously. The impact caused the glider to bounce to an altitude of approximately 0.5 meters before landing again on the main wheel. The accident resulted in no fatalities.
The investigation
The PKBWL investigation examined the aircraft's structural condition and the pilot's training history. Post-flight inspections revealed a fracture in a fuselage bulkhead and damage to the nose wheel fairing. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's flight logs, noting that while the pilot had significant recent flight experience, the total solo flight time was relatively low at 3 hours and 17 minutes. The investigation considered environmental factors, such as potential sun glare, but determined that the sun's high position in the sky at 17:36 should not have significantly hindered a pilot with the student's level of experience.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was an incorrect assessment of altitude during the final approach and a delayed flare maneuver, which led to the nose wheel absorbing excessive impact energy.
- The pilot may have been overly focused on avoiding a previous error (landing short) which contributed to the delayed execution of the flare.
- The structural damage to the fuselage was a direct result of the nose wheel taking the brunt of the landing energy.