What happened
On July 5, 2016, a private pilot operating an SZD-48 Jantar Std 2 glider, registration SP-3686, departed from Rudniki Airport (EPRU) to participate in the SMP Class CLUB competition. Prior to takeoff, meteorological briefings had warned that encroaching cirrus clouds could rapidly diminish thermal lift. Following the briefing, the pilot successfully crossed the takeoff line and reached a significant altitude.
During the flight, thermal conditions began to deteriorate as the pilot moved toward the second soaring area. After reaching an altitude of approximately 1,600 m AGL, the pilot turned toward the finish line, but the arrival of cirrus clouds caused lift to vanish. As the glider's altitude decreased, the pilot searched for a suitable location for an emergency landing. Near Radomsko, the pilot managed to find weak lift, reaching 800 m, and attempted to locate a small cumulus cloud for further soaring, but found no usable lift within it.
While circling at approximately 500 m, the pilot identified a long, mown grass strip located between four industrial halls and selected it as a landing site. The approach was made with a light tailwind. At an altitude of approximately 20 m on the final approach, the pilot noticed a terrain depression and a green-painted wire fence that had been invisible from a higher altitude. Unable to avoid the obstacle, the pilot flew over the fence and landed on a shorter section of the field, which was bounded by a tall fence.
Despite deploying the wheel brake and full aerodynamic brakes, the glider failed to decelerate sufficiently. The pilot attempted to shorten the landing roll by pushing the control stick forward and performing a left-hand turn. Ultimately, the SZD-48 Jantar Std 2 struck the end fence, breaking one section and bending three others, before spinning 150 degrees to the left and coming to a halt.
The investigation
The PKBWL investigation focused on the sequence of events leading to the impact and the visibility of obstacles during the approach. The investigation examined the aircraft's damage, which included structural failures to both wings, the fuselage, the rudder mount, and the cockpit canopy.
Findings
- The pilot's selection of an unsuitable landing site in an industrial area was the primary cause of the accident.
- The presence of industrial obstacles, such as the green-painted fence and terrain depressions, were difficult to detect from the air.
- The pilot sustained fatal injuries during the impact.