What happened
On August 26, 2015, a training flight was being conducted at the Żar aerodrome (EPZR) using a tow plane. The takeoff roll was initiated from runway 220° under conditions featuring a crosswind of approximately 2-3 m/s from 300° and partial cloud cover.
During the initial phase of the takeoff run, the SZD-48-1 Jantar Std. 2 glider, registration SP-3172, experienced a wing drop, with the left wing making contact with the ground. This caused the aircraft to deviate from the intended takeoff heading by approximately 30°. Despite receiving a radio instruction from the flight instructor to release the tow rope, the pilot failed to execute the release command.
The glider subsequently lifted off the ground at a height of only 3-4 meters, banking heavily to the right. The release from the tow plane eventually occurred while the glider was on the left traverse, followed by a landing. During the landing roll, the glider entered a left-hand turn, ultimately coming to a stop with a heading deviation of approximately 110° from the original takeoff direction. The impact resulted in one fatality and significant damage to the aircraft.
The investigation
The PKBWL investigation focused on the sequence of events during the takeoff roll and the pilot's response to the loss of directional control. The investigators examined the flight dynamics following the wing drop and the communication between the instructor and the pilot.