What happened
On October 28, 2013, at approximately 12:06 PM, an SZD-30 Pirat glider, registration SP-3759, performed a winch launch at the Bezmiechowa airfield. The flight was part of a solo training program for a pilot completing requirements for soaring and basic aerobatics. Following a successful launch, the pilot initially flew along the slope to engage thermal currents. However, the pilot executed a left turn too early, causing the aircraft to fly parallel to the slope and toward the eastern forest edge.
An instructor monitoring the flight via radio issued multiple warnings regarding the aircraft's proximity to the slope. The pilot responded to the first warning with a delay, only slightly correcting the flight path. As the aircraft approached the tree line at an altitude lower than the forest canopy, the instructor issued repeated commands to turn right. To avoid the trees, the pilot initiated a high-bank turn at a critically low altitude. During this maneuver, the right wing struck the top of a single poplar tree that was partially visible above the surrounding canopy. This impact caused the glider to enter a rapid roll, resulting in a near-vertical impact with the ground. The pilot sustained fatal injuries at the scene, and the aircraft was destroyed.
The investigation
The PKBWL investigation examined the pilot's training records, the aircraft's maintenance history, and witness testimonies from the instructor and ground crew. The investigation reconstructed the flight trajectory and analyzed the pilot's response to radio instructions. Investigators also noted the presence of an active mobile phone in the cockpit, which was found undamaged after the crash.