What happened
On August 15, 2016, a pilot operating a Club Astir II glider, registration SP-3940, initiated a cross-country flight from EPGI (Lisie Kąty) toward Skórcz and Łasin. After departing via aero-tow, the pilot encountered sinky air near the town of Nowe. At an altitude of approximately 500 meters, the pilot decided to perform an off-field landing in a nearby field. After a second pass to evaluate the landing site's surface, slope, and wind conditions, the pilot commenced the approach.
During the final approach at an altitude of approximately 250 meters, the pilot identified power lines crossing the field that had not been detected during the initial assessment. Realizing that the glider could not land before the obstacle, the pilot decided to fly over the lines and execute a right-hand turn to utilize a longer landing roll, as the end of the field was obstructed by a concrete road. During the maneuver, the glider touched down on its side, impacting the ground with both the main wheel and the tail skid, resulting in damage to the aircraft.
The investigation
The PKBWL investigation established that the pilot was in a proper state of psychophysical fitness and held all necessary licenses and medical certifications. The pilot's flight experience included 115 hours of total flight time, with 4 hours and 22 minutes specifically on the Club Astir II. Following the accident, the pilot underwent medical examination, which revealed only minor abrasions and contusions, with no serious injuries reported.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the improper selection of a landing site due to the presence of terrain obstacles on the approach path that prevented a safe landing roll.
- The pilot failed to identify the power lines during the initial reconnaissance of the landing field.