Accident Details
On 27 October 2013, a glider accident occurred at EPLR airport. The flight was part of a series of training and practice flights using a winch launch. A briefing was held, covering the launch layout, weather conditions, and tasks for each pilot. The launch direction was 290°, and the wind was approximately 4 m/s from 20°-30° left of the runway centerline, considered manageable for pilots.
The first flight was a training flight with an instructor in a Bocian glider, which proceeded without incident. The second flight was conducted by a glider pilot who had recently obtained his SPL license and was on his first solo flight. The organizing instructor reminded the pilot to maintain proper speed during landing and visually checked the glider's preflight preparation, noting the correct elevator position (stick back).
The initial ground roll was normal. After lift-off, the glider transitioned abruptly to a steep climb. At approximately 10-15 meters, it began to bank right while losing speed. The instructor issued a command to reduce pitch. The glider continued climbing briefly, then entered a gentle climb. Simultaneously, the winch operator observed the glider in an abnormal attitude (with a pronounced nose-up posture and bank tendency) and cut the tow. The glider momentarily leveled, then banked left and entered an increasingly steep descent, striking the ground with the left wing and nose at an angle of about 45°. Immediate assistance was provided by personnel on the field and later by a helicopter rescue team. The pilot sustained serious injuries, and the glider was destroyed.
Aircraft and Pilot Information
The glider was an SZD-30 Pirat, serial number S.05-35, registration SP-2874, built in 1975. Total airframe time was 2,848 hours. Its Airworthiness Review Certificate, radio permit, and liability insurance were valid. Post-accident inspection revealed the glider was fully serviceable, control continuity was maintained up to impact, and loading was within limits per the Flight Manual.
The pilot was a 54-year-old male with a total flight time of 85 hours 37 minutes, of which 63:08 were solo. In the previous 90 days, he had logged 9:25 total (8:38 solo). His SPL license was issued in October 2013, and his medical certificate was current.
Investigation Findings
The investigation identified two causes: 1. An error in launch technique: the pilot omitted the gentle climb phase and immediately went into a steep climb without maintaining lateral balance, allowing the speed to decrease during the tow. 2. Failure to maintain speed after the tow was cut, leading to a stall and entry into a spin.
The commission noted that the pilot had a history of requiring increased supervision during training and had previously experienced a stall during landing and a geographic disorientation incident resulting in a landing accident in another glider. No safety recommendations were issued.