What happened
On May 16, 2018, a training flight was being conducted at Wrocław-Szymanów (EPWS) using a winch-launch method on runway 32. The crew, consisting of a student pilot and an instructor, was performing a dual flight in an SZD-9 bis 1E Bocian glider as part of a basic glider pilot license training syllabus.
As the day progressed, weather conditions began to deteriorate. Due to the approaching end of the day and worsening weather, this was intended to be the final planned flight of the session. Shortly after takeoff, the aircraft entered an area of intense rainfall passing over the airfield. During the landing approach at approximately 19:07 LMT, the student pilot misjudged the height above the ground and initiated the flare maneuver too early. Although the instructor attempted to intervene by deploying the aerodynamic brakes, the glider lost altitude rapidly, dropping approximately 1 meter. This resulted in a hard impact that damaged the landing gear structure. The crew sustained no injuries and were able to egress the aircraft unaided.
The investigation
The investigation examined the flight parameters, the experience levels of the crew, and the environmental conditions at the time of the incident. The investigation focused on the sequence of the landing maneuver and the instructor's response to the student's error, as well as the decision-making process regarding flying in deteriorating weather.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was the instructor's delayed reaction to the student pilot's error in initiating the flare too high.
- A contributing factor was the decision to proceed with a training flight despite deteriorating atmospheric conditions.