What happened
On July 17, 2017, at approximately 09:45 LMT, a training flight involving a student pilot ended in an accident at the Bielsko-Aleintrowice (EPBA) aerodrome. The aircraft, an SZD-9 bis Bocian 1 E with registration SP-2749, was performing a standard circuit flight.
During the flight, the student pilot realized the aircraft was too high before the third turn and extended the aerodynamic brakes to lose altitude. While the initial approach was managed correctly, the pilot later realized that the aircraft lacked sufficient altitude and airspeed to reach the runway safely. At an altitude of approximately 30 to 50 meters, the pilot fully extended the aerodynamic brakes. Despite repeated radio commands from the instructor on the ground instructing the pilot to "close the brakes," the student did not respond to the instructions. As the glider approached the airfield, the tail struck the perimeter fence, causing the aircraft to drop approximately 1.5 meters upon impact. The aircraft sustained significant damage, including a broken front skid, a cracked fuselage, and damaged structural ribs near the main landing gear housing. The pilot sustained no injuries.
The investigation
The PKBWL investigation focused on the flight sequence and the pilot's actions during the final approach. The investigation confirmed that the aircraft's technical documentation and maintenance records were in order, permitting flight. The investigators reviewed the instructor's observations, noting that while the pilot had initially established a correct descent path, the subsequent decision to fully deploy the brakes was the critical error. The investigation also considered the pilot's flight experience, noting a total flight time of 36 hours and only 2 hours and 41 minutes of solo flight time.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the pilot's improper use of the aerodynamic brakes, specifically confusing the lever position for "closed" with "open."
- The pilot's limited flight experience contributed to the error.
- The pilot failed to respond to critical radio instructions from the instructor during the final moments of the flight.