VL3 E-1 Ultralight Accident at Kołbiel-Skorupy (SP-SATM)

Incident Overview and Aircraft Details On May 1, 2018, a VL3 E-1 ultralight aircraft with registration SP-SATM was involved in a fatal accident near Kołbiel-Skorupy, Poland. The aircraft was operated by ATM PP Sp. z o.o. and was piloted by a 59-year-old male holding a PPL(A) license. The flight originated from the Nadolna landing site near Nieborów, where the aircraft had recently undergone maintenance following propeller damage. After a successful 30-minute check flight at 14:00 UTC, the pilot departed for the hangar at Kołbiel-Skorupy at approximately 15:30 UTC. During the flight, the pilot maintained a cruising altitude of 1,700 feet and a speed of 150 knots while communicating with air traffic services in Warsaw and Olsztyn. As the aircraft approached the destination, the pilot reported visual contact with the airfield at a distance of four miles and transitioned to the landing frequency. The aircraft then descended to approximately 700 feet, reducing its speed to between 115 and 56 knots. The final radar contact occurred at 15:53:22 UTC. Witness accounts and industrial camera footage indicated that the aircraft approached from the southwest and executed a series of right turns while in landing configuration, with the landing gear extended and flaps deployed. During a turn near the southern threshold of the runway, the aircraft entered a right spiral dive, completing approximately one and a half turns before striking tall trees and the ground about 800 meters from the runway. A fire broke out immediately after the impact, and the pilot died at the scene. The investigation was conducted by the State Commission for Investigation of Aviation Accidents (PKBWL), and the final report was issued in 2019.