What happened
On April 24, 2015, at the Turbia aerodrome (EPST), a training flight was underway to qualify a pilot with 900 flight hours for winch launch operations. The flight was being conducted with an instructor present. The flight began normally, with the takeoff and initial circuit patterns proceeding without incident. However, during the final approach phase, the glider experienced a rapid descent rate. The pilot failed to initiate the flare in a timely manner, leading to a high-impact touchdown. Although the instructor attempted to close the air brakes to assist, the action was performed too late to prevent the impact.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the flight dynamics during the landing phase and the mechanical state of the aircraft. Post-incident inspections of the KR-03 Puchatek revealed structural damage to the fuselage, specifically around the main wheel shock absorber mounting node and its associated components, which absorbed the energy of the hard landing. The investigation confirmed that atmospheric conditions were not a contributing factor to the event.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was the excessive rate of descent during the final approach, coupled with a significant delay in initiating the flare.
- The instructor's reaction to the trainee's errors, specifically the delayed closure of the air brakes, contributed to the severity of the landing.