What happened
On June 1, 2018, during the "Ostrów Glide" glider competition, a pilot was operating an SZD-48-3 Jantar Std 3, registration SP-3260, near Rąbczyn, Poland. After completing a cross-country flight, the pilot determined that the remaining altitude was insufficient to return to the home aerodrome at Michałkowie and decided to perform an out-of-field landing in a nearby agricultural field.
While attempting to utilize a weak thermal lift at an altitude of approximately 260 m AMSL, the pilot began circling to the right. During these maneuvers, the aircraft's airspeed dropped below the critical threshold, leading to a stall and the initiation of an unintended right spin. In an attempt to recover at approximately 189 m AMSL, the pilot encountered a second stall. The aircraft then entered an unstable left spin, ultimately impacting the ground at approximately 153 m AMSL. The pilot escaped the wreckage without injury, but the SZD-48-3 Jantar Std 3 was destroyed.
The investigation
The PKBWL investigation utilized data from the onboard Colibri II flight recorder and FLARM anti-collision system to reconstruct the flight path and vertical speed. The investigation examined the pilot's training, the aircraft's technical condition, and the meteorological circumstances. The investigators also analyzed the pilot's recent flight history and the pressures of the ongoing sporting competition.