Accident Overview
On August 20, 2015, a glider accident occurred near Nietków, Poland, involving an SZD-48-1 Jantar Std. 2 (registration SP-3224) operated by Aeroklub Jeleniogórski. The flight was part of a competition in the Junior Polish Gliding Championships, with a 335 km triangular task. The pilot sustained fatal injuries.
Sequence of Events
In the afternoon, as thermal activity diminished, the pilot decided to dump water ballast. Around 15:55 local time, the ballast release was initiated. According to the flight manual, the dump process should take about 7 minutes. While climbing in a thermal to approximately 1700 m, the pilot turned southwest. As lift weakened, at about 600 m, the pilot decided to land in an open field and began searching for a suitable area. Many fields were covered with bales of straw and hay. Eventually, a suitable field was found. Approaching at about 300 m, the pilot circled to use a brief thermal, but it was only a vertical gust. Considering the conditions, the pilot opted for an approach with a tailwind from the east, estimated at less than 10 km/h. After flying along the edge of a forest and the selected field, the pilot initiated a 270° right turn to land. On final approach, the pilot extended airbrakes and maintained higher speed anticipating a lee effect at the forest-field boundary. During flare, the airbrakes were retracted to avoid catching the tall crop (flax). After touchdown, during the roll, the glider began tilting to the left. Despite aileron input, at about 74 km/h (from IGC data), the left wing contacted the tall crop, causing a ground loop of approximately 190°, after which the glider stopped. Upon exiting, the pilot found that the left wing ballast tank still contained nearly all its water. Emptying it on the ground proved difficult.
Damage
The accident resulted in damage to the left wing trailing edge and tip, ruptured left wing ballast tank, fuselage skin damage near the tailwheel and oblique rib, and cracks near the horizontal stabilizer fittings.
Probable Causes
The Polish State Commission for Aircraft Accident Investigation (PKBWL) identified two causes: (1) faulty venting of the left wing ballast tank, which resulted in a significant amount of water remaining; (2) the left wing contacting the high crop, causing a ground loop.