Accident Overview
On 17 August 2017 at 14:30 local time, a glider accident occurred at Masłów airfield (EPKA). The glider, an SZD-9 Bocian 1E registered as SP-2662, was operated by Aeroklub Kielecki. The aircraft was destroyed in the accident.
Aircraft and Crew
The glider was a SZD-9 Bocian 1E, a two-seat training glider. The sole occupant was a 42-year-old student pilot with a total glider flight time of 7 hours and 20 minutes, including 6 hours and 8 minutes on the Bocian type. He held a valid Class 2 medical certificate without restrictions. The flight was a solo training mission under visual flight rules (VFR) in visual meteorological conditions (VMC). Weather was not a factor.
Sequence of Events
The student pilot had completed five flights with an instructor earlier that day, practicing landing techniques including S-turns, field selection, and go-arounds. He then began his first solo flight of the day, using the same glider. After a winch launch, he was to perform S-turns on approach to runway 29R. Entering the S-turn area, he made the first turn in the wrong direction—away from the airfield to the left. Despite radio instructions from the instructor to “come out onto the final,” he continued S-turning. He executed another left turn with the glider’s nose raised high above the horizon. The instructor issued further commands, including “release the stick” due to risk of a spin. The student responded slowly and released the stick while heading approximately 200°, then initiated a right turn with high bank angle. During this turn, the right wingtip struck a tree top, causing the glider to rotate and hit the ground with the right wingtip. The glider then pitched forward, the cockpit struck the stubble field, and it rotated 180° around its vertical axis before stopping. The student unbuckled his harness and exited the cockpit unaided. Emergency services were notified, and the pilot was taken to a hospital for examination; toxicology tests for alcohol were negative.
Aircraft Damage
The forward fuselage and cockpit were completely destroyed. Both wings were damaged, and the fuselage was broken at the trailing edge of the wings. The glider was totaled.
Probable Cause
The accident resulted from incorrect construction of the traffic pattern and starting the S-turn maneuver in the wrong direction (away from the airfield) at too low altitude, combined with non-compliance with the instructor's commands.