What happened
On August 16, 2018, at approximately 16:18 LMT, a TECNAM 2002 ultralight aircraft, registration OK-JUU23, was conducting a visual flight near Smerek, Poland. The aircraft, operated by a private pilot, was carrying one passenger, a 12-year-old child. Following takeoff from a private field, the pilot executed a 180-degree turn to perform a low-altitude pass over a roadside area.
The intent of the maneuver, as stated by the passenger, was to fly at an altitude of 30 to 50 meters to intentionally frighten bystanders standing near the road. Witnesses observed the aircraft flying at an extremely low altitude, between 5 and 10 meters. During the maneuver, the aircraft suddenly descended further, and the right main landing gear struck the head of a man standing by the roadside. The impact caused the man's immediate death.
Following the strike, the right landing gear strut was damaged and eventually detached after the aircraft touched down. The aircraft's right wing struck a concrete bridge, causing a significant change in direction, before the aircraft came to rest in a ditch at the edge of the runway and the road. The pilot and the passenger sustained no physical injuries.
The investigation
The PKBWL investigation examined the flight path, witness testimonies, and surveillance footage from a nearby hotel. The investigation established that the pilot intentionally directed the aircraft toward the bystanders for the purpose of the low-altitude pass. The commission also reviewed the legality of the flight operations under Polish aviation law, specifically regarding minimum altitude requirements and the use of unregistered landing sites.
Findings
- The primary cause of the fatality was the intentional low-altitude flight maneuver that resulted in the aircraft's landing gear striking a pedestrian.
- The pilot performed the maneuver at an altitude of approximately 5 to 10 meters, which violated regulations prohibiting ultralight flights at altitudes lower than 150 meters when within 300 meters of buildings or structures.
- The bystander did not attempt to move out of the way because similar low-altitude passes had been performed by the same aircraft previously.
- The aircraft was being operated in violation of Polish aviation regulations regarding minimum safe altitudes for ultralight aircraft near populated areas.