What happened
On June 14, 2016, at approximately 19:17 LMT, an Ekolot KR-030 Topaz, registration SP-SUTU, crashed during a landing approach at the Ostry Bór landing field near Wilga, Poland. The pilot and a passenger were conducting recreational sightseeing flights in the area.
During the final approach from the south, the pilot configured the aircraft with flaps and, due to excessive airspeed and altitude, decided to execute a second circuit. While flying over the edge of a forest located just west of the runway threshold, the aircraft experienced a sudden deviation to the left, followed by a drop of the right wing. The aircraft entered a right-hand turn and began descending at an increased rate. Although the pilot attempted to correct the bank, the aircraft struck the ground and the north wall of a hangar. The impact destroyed the aircraft. The pilot sustained a spinal injury, while the passenger suffered only minor abrasions.
The investigation
The PKBWL investigation focused on the aerodynamic conditions and the mechanical functionality of the aircraft. Investigators performed a technical analysis of the electromechanical flap control system, including a comparative acoustic analysis against a known functional aircraft to rule out mechanical failure. The investigation also examined meteorological data and the pilot's experience level. The investigation confirmed that the aircraft's documentation was complete, the engine was functioning normally until impact, and the aircraft's center of gravity was within limits, although the maximum takeoff mass was slightly exceeded by approximately 2.43%.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was a stall during the final phase of the landing approach.
- This stall was most likely caused by a sudden increase in wind speed and the aircraft entering upward-moving air currents (updrafts) created by the forest edge located before the runway threshold.
- A contributing factor was the pilot's relatively low level of flight experience.
- Meteorological conditions, specifically a sudden change in wind velocity and direction relative to the landing heading, significantly influenced the event.