Incident Overview
On July 9, 2017, a pilot was conducting a training cross-country flight in a SZD-48-3 Jantar Std 3 glider. Around 16:00 local time, thermal lift began to diminish. The pilot, seeing no chance to complete the flight, decided to land in an unprepared field. After selecting a suitable area, the pilot performed a landing approach.
Landing and Gear Retraction
Upon touchdown, during the initial phase of the landing roll, the glider's landing gear retracted. The glider continued its rollout on the belly of the fuselage. Subsequently, the glider struck an unevenness in the terrain, resulting in damage to the lower fuselage near the cabin ventilation air intake.
Injuries and Damage
The pilot sustained no injuries. The glider sustained damage to the lower fuselage section.
Findings and Contributing Factors
The investigation determined that the most probable cause of the incident was improper locking of the landing gear control lever, which led to the gear retracting after touchdown. Factors that may have contributed to the situation included stress associated with landing in an unprepared field, fatigue from the prolonged flight, and the presence of tall, dense grass that hindered assessment of the field's surface from the air.
Disposition
No safety recommendations were formulated by the investigating commission.