What happened
On July 22, 2018, a student pilot was conducting a thermal soaring flight near the Świebodzice-Ciernie (EPWC) airfield. The flight, performed in an SZD-22C Mucha Standard with registration SP-2301, was part of a training program involving launches from a motorized aircraft.
After approximately two hours of flight, the pilot lost geographical orientation while focusing on searching for thermals. Once orientation was regained near the city of Lubin, the pilot decided to divert to Lubin Airport (EPL_U) to avoid the risks of an unplanned landing in open terrain, especially as thermal activity was decreasing and daylight was fading.
Upon arriving at the airfield, the pilot executed a standard landing pattern. However, during the final approach, the pilot misjudged the altitude and failed to perform the flare phase. This resulted in a hard landing where the glider's front skid struck the grassy runway surface, causing structural damage to the fuselage near the third and fourth frames.
The investigation
The PKBWL investigation examined the aircraft's technical documentation, the pilot's training records, and the landing phase of the flight. The investigation also reviewed the meteorological conditions and the pilot's communications. The commission noted that the aircraft was airworthy and all necessary documentation was in order. The investigation also considered the significant difference in elevation between the departure airfield (267 m AMSL) and the landing site (155 m AMSL).