What happened
On May 27, 2018, an Apollo Fox ultralight aircraft, registration OK-TUL 07, was performing a recreational flight from Wrocław Szymanów toward the Turawa Lake area. During the flight, the pilot decided to divert to an unregistered landing site in Smarchowice Wielkie, near Namysłów.
While executing a landing approach on runway 008°, the pilot performed a reconnaissance turn to assess wind conditions. During the final phase of the approach, at an altitude of approximately 8 to 10 meters, a strong wind gust from the right caused the aircraft to bank sharply to the left and drift off the centerline. In an attempt to avoid nearby buildings, the pilot increased engine power, but the left wing struck a birch tree located on an adjacent property. The impact caused the aircraft to rotate further left and lose speed, leading it to strike a two-meter-high pile of firewood on a neighboring property before sliding to a stop on the ground. The aircraft sustained significant damage, including a broken main landing gear leg, a bent nose gear, and propeller damage.
The investigation
The PKBWL investigation examined the aircraft's technical condition, the pilot's experience, and the meteorological conditions at the time of the accident. The investigation confirmed that the aircraft was in a functional technical state and that the pilot was not under the influence of alcohol. Investigators also analyzed local weather data, which showed variable wind conditions and thermal currents in the area. The investigation focused on the pilot's decision-making regarding the use of an unfamiliar landing site and the failure to account for recent weather forecasts.