What happened
On July 26, 2018, at 14:11 local time, a PZL 101 Gawron tow plane was taxiing along the runway at Białystok Krywlany (EPBK) airport following a landing. While taxiing toward the takeoff position for glider towing operations, the aircraft collided with a stationary SZD50-3 Puchacz glider that was positioned at the glider launch square. The pilot of the tow plane failed to observe the glider ahead. Although a radio command to stop was issued at the last moment, the aircraft's propeller struck the wingtip of the glider, resulting in approximately 1.5 meters of damage to the glider's wing.
The investigation
The investigation examined the taxiing sequence, the visibility conditions from the cockpit, and the ground organization at the airfield. The inquiry established that the weather conditions at the time of the incident did not contribute to the collision. The investigation also reviewed the operational procedures regarding flight management and separation between active taxiing paths and launch areas.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was pilot error resulting from taxiing in a straight line with the tailwheel configuration, which significantly limited visibility from the cockpit.
- There was insufficient separation between the taxiway, the glider launch area, the winch cables, and the active runway.
- There was an absence of a designated person responsible for flight direction/management at the time of the event.