What happened
On August 8, 2015, at approximately 09:00, a motor glider accident occurred near Kalisz, Poland. The pilot, a 70-year-old male, took off from his own field using a Stratus motor glider wing and carriage. While flying at an altitude of approximately 5 meters and roughly 400 meters from the takeoff point, the pilot lost control of the aircraft, causing it to crash into a field.
Following the impact, the pilot, with the assistance of his daughter, moved the wreckage to an adjacent area near his residence. Emergency services were summoned to the scene, and the pilot was transported to a hospital. He sustained serious injuries, including fractures to the right leg, injuries to the left leg and heel, and fractures to the L1 and L4 vertebrae of the lumbar spine.
The investigation
The investigation was conducted based on information provided by the Police. The investigation established that the pilot did not possess a valid motor glider pilot qualification certificate. Although the pilot had previously attended training sessions at the Michałków airfield regarding equipment handling, he had not completed the necessary course to obtain legal flight privileges.
Furthermore, the investigation found that the aircraft was not entered into the aircraft register, and the pilot lacked the mandatory third-party liability insurance. Because the wreckage had been moved prior to the arrival of investigators, a technical inspection of the aircraft's condition and assembly could not be performed.