What happened
On May 2, 2018, a pilot operating an SZD-48-2 Jantar STD 2 glider departed from the Łososina airport near Nowy Sącz (EPNL) to participate in a regional gliding competition. The flight involved navigating a three-point course. At 14:14 LMT, the pilot departed from the course at an altitude of 950 m QFE. While flying near Nowy Sącz, the pilot utilized a weak thermal to reach approximately 1050 m before turning southeast toward Nawojowa.
Upon reaching the Nawojowa area, the pilot was unable to locate further thermal lift. At an altitude of 500 m, the pilot selected an off-field landing site and continued searching for lift while descending. At 300 m, the decision was made to proceed with the landing in the unprepared terrain. The pilot executed a proper approach for a slope landing. The touchdown occurred at the intended location with a quartering tailwind of 4-5 m/s. During the landing roll, the pilot encountered a small rise in the terrain that had been invisible from the air. The SZD-48-2 Jantar STD 2 struck this irregularity at approximately 45-50 km/h, causing the aircraft to bounce and the left wing to catch the ground.
This contact triggered a ground loop, resulting in damage to the main landing gear, a crack in the cockpit canopy, and the detachment of the rudder trim weight.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sequence of the landing roll and the visibility of terrain features during off-field operations. The inquiry established the flight path, the meteorological conditions regarding thermal activity, and the specific impact with the terrain irregularity.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was the left wing catching the ground during an off-field landing.
- The landing was performed with a quartering tailwind, which acted as a contributing factor.
- The terrain irregularity was not detectable from the air prior to the landing roll.