What happened
On July 12, 2014, a private pilot operating an LS 1-f glider departed Michałków airport at 10:14 UTC to participate in the XXII Regional Gliding Competitions organized by Aeroklub Ostrowski. The flight was intended to follow a route pre-determined by the competition's sports manager. During the flight, the pilot lost contact with thermal lift. While searching for new thermals at an altitude of approximately 50 and 500 meters, the pilot selected a field for a landing.
Upon approaching the chosen field at an altitude of about 150 meters, the pilot initiated a second circling maneuver. After two circuits, the pilot was unable to regain altitude. Consequently, the pilot was forced to abandon the original landing site and instead landed in a field containing high-growth rapeseed. The impact caused the glider to rotate 90 degrees to the right. The incident occurred at 13:43 UTC.
The investigation
The investigation examined the sequence of maneuvers leading to the landing and the physical condition of the aircraft. The pilot was tested for alcohol consumption following the event, returning a result of 0.00 mg/l. The investigation also assessed the structural damage sustained by the LS 1-f, which included a broken cockpit side, a fractured wing bulkhead, a twisted fuselage tube at the wing-fuselage junction, and damage to the vertical and horizontal stabilizers.
Findings
- The pilot made an improper decision to begin circling at too low an altitude while attempting a landing in unprepared terrain.
- This decision resulted in the inability to maintain sufficient height to reach the original landing site, forcing a landing in a high-crop area that did not allow for a safe landing roll.