What happened
On June 10, 2018, a female pilot with 165 total flight hours was operating a SZD 51-1 Junior glider, registration SP-3509, at the Lubin (EPLU) aerodrome. During the landing approach at approximately 13:58 LMT, the pilot maintained a constant glide angle without performing the necessary flare maneuver. As a result, the glider struck the airfield surface with both the nose and the main landing gear simultaneously. The impact caused the aircraft to bounce approximately 3 to 4 meters into the air. Following this bounce, the pilot applied elevator input that caused the nose of the fuselage to strike the ground a second time. The aircraft came to a stop 90 meters from the initial point of impact, with significant damage sustained to the fuselage area around the cockpit.
Following the accident, the pilot reported chest pains and remained in the aircraft until emergency medical services arrived. Medical examinations revealed a fracture of the 8th thoracic vertebra, though no spinal cord injury was detected. The pilot was released from the hospital the same day with instructions to wear a medical brace. Testing for alcohol consumption yielded a negative result.
The investigation
The investigation examined the flight sequence, the aircraft's structural damage, and the pilot's control inputs during the landing phase. The inquiry focused on the lack of a flare maneuver and the subsequent control inputs following the initial impact.