Incident Overview
On 12 July 2015, at Pobiednik Wielki airport near Kraków, Poland, training flights were being conducted on a SZD 9 Bis 1E Bocian glider as part of exercise 1, task 4 (emergency procedures training). At 06:30, during one flight, the instructor simulated a tow rope failure in the initial climb phase. After the simulated break at approximately 20 meters, the glider landed correctly, but deviated 15–20° from the launch line. After the landing roll, while the crew remained seated in the cockpit, the pilot chute of the winch cable lifted and caught the glider's tail section. This caused damage to the tail at frame 25, including the horizontal and vertical stabilizers. The report included a situational diagram and photographs of the damage.
Injuries and Damage
The two occupants—the instructor and student—were not injured. The glider sustained structural damage to the tail.
Probable Cause
The accident was caused by the winch operator winding the tow rope without first ensuring that it was safe to do so.
Commission's Commentary
The investigation commission noted that winch operators should retract the tow rope only after receiving clearance from the launch point, as they cannot assess the rope's position or potential hazards. Operators should also consider wind direction, which can cause the rope to drift during descent after release and during ground retrieval. The commission highlighted that modern synthetic ropes are lighter than steel cables and tend to float when the pilot chute inflates during retrieval. A contributing circumstance was that the winch operator had difficulty judging distances due to having to look into the sun.
Preventive Measures
No preventive measures were taken at the time, and no safety recommendations were issued.