What happened
On June 18, 2017, a SZD-30 Pirat glider was engaged in soaring flight near the Pruszcz Gdański (EPPR) aerodrome. After approximately 30 minutes of flight, the pilot was attempting to utilize weak thermal columns on the leeward side of the airfield, maintaining an altitude between 200 and 300 meters. Upon encountering strong sink rates, the pilot initiated a descent toward the airfield; however, it appears there was insufficient altitude to complete the approach.
The glider touched down in tall grass approximately 400 meters from the operational part of the aerodrome. The landing was performed at an excessive speed. During the subsequent rollout, the aircraft tilted onto its left wing and entered a ground loop. This maneuver resulted in the separation of the tail section and a fracture of the fuselage near the center section junction.
The investigation
Because the pilot did not hold a valid medical certificate on the day of the occurrence, the Commission decided to refrain from conducting a full investigation.