What happened
On July 16, 2014, during the fifth task of the XXII Regional Gliding Competition at Michałków airfield (EPOM), two gliders collided near Kalety. The aircraft involved were a SZD-48-3 Jantar Std 3 (registration SP-3228) and a SZD-48 Jantar Std 2 (registration S5-3100).
While searching for thermal lift, the pilots were circling in a thermal column at approximately 1,950 m AGL. The pilot of the S5-3100 had completed one circuit and transitioned to a right-hand turn. Shortly after, the pilot of the SP-322 معظم 28 entered the same thermal, following the first aircraft. Because the SP-3228 was flying at a tighter radius and higher bank angle, it overtook the S5-3100 without the latter pilot noticing.
At approximately 16:04:34 LMT, the pilot of the S5-3100 spotted the approaching SP-3228 and attempted a right-hand avoidance maneuver. Simultaneously, the pilot of the SP-3228 attempted to fly under the other aircraft. Despite these efforts, the left wingtip of the SP-3228 struck the tail boom of the S5-3100 from below. The impact caused the canopy of the S5-3100 to detach and caused structural damage to the tail boom. Both pilots confirmed the aircraft remained controllable and continued the flight to the airfield without further incident.
The investigation
The PKBWL examined flight recorder data, meteorological reports, and the aircraft involved. The investigation established that the pilots were flying within the competition's requirements and that the weather conditions were suitable for flight. The investigation also noted that the aircraft were technically airworthy and that the pilots had tested negative for alcohol. The analysis focused on the flight paths within the thermal and the visibility conditions near the cloud base.
Findings
- The primary cause of the collision was insufficient external observation by the pilots.
- The aircraft were circling near the predicted cloud base (approximately 1,800–2,000 m AGL), which may have hindered visibility.
- The relative positions of the two gliders—specifically the trailing aircraft flying a tighter radius—created a blind spot that made maintaining safe separation extremely difficult.
- The pilots were not aware that their flight paths would intersect until the moment of impact, at which point avoidance maneuvers were no longer effective.