What happened
On June 29, 2016, an ultralight Bristell TDO was involved in an accident near the Strzeszynek landing field in Suchy Las, Poland. The flight originated from a private, unregistered landing strip on the pilot's property, proceeding to a landing field near Oborniki before attempting a return to the original site. During the final approach, the aircraft experienced a sudden roll to the right wing, entering a steep spiral that resulted in a high-angle impact with the ground. The accident resulted in no fatalities, though both the pilot and the passenger sustained injuries.
The investigation
The PKBWL investigators examined the wreckage at both the crash site and the storage location. The aircraft was found to be in good technical condition, having undergone its annual maintenance only two weeks prior to the accident. The investigators interviewed both occupants; while neither reported any engine or control system malfunctions during the flight, their accounts of the final moments were contradictory. The pilot alleged that the passenger interfered with the controls by pressing the right rudder pedal at an altitude of approximately 3 to 4 meters. The passenger denied this, stating they had not touched the controls or the rudder pedals.
Due to the lack of flight data recorders or rudder pedal monitoring equipment, the investigators could not objectively verify which account was accurate. However, the investigation was ultimately halted following police findings that the pilot was intoxicated, with breathalyzer tests showing increasing blood alcohol levels following the accident.