What happened
On May 15, 2015, at approximately 14:10 local time, a pilot departed from the Przasnysz glider airfield for a thermal flight in an SZD-51-1 Junior glider, registration SP-3315. After releasing from the tow cable at an altitude of 400 meters, the pilot successfully engaged with thermals and initially operated within the vicinity of the airfield.
However, weather conditions deteriorated as an atmospheric front approached from the west, bringing heavy rain and strong westerly winds. These conditions drifted the aircraft approximately 10 km east of the airfield, making a return to the home base impossible. Consequently, the pilot performed an emergency landing in an unprepared field containing young grain, located about 4 km from the airfield.
During the landing roll, the aircraft's wing was caught by the tall crops, causing the glider to enter a ground loop (known locally as a "cyrkiel"). This maneuver resulted in structural damage to the rear section of the fuselage. The pilot escaped the incident without injury.
The investigation
The PKBWL investigation focused on the sequence of events leading to the forced landing and the subsequent ground loop. The investigators examined the meteorological conditions at the time of the accident, specifically the impact of the advancing western front and the resulting wind drift that prevented the pilot from reaching the airfield.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the landing in an unprepared area with high crop density.
- The tall grain caused the wing to be held back during the landing roll, triggering the ground loop.
- Deteriorating weather, characterized by strong winds and rain, necessitated the forced landing.