Background
On 11 May 2019, at approximately 13:15 local time, a serious incident occurred at Nowy Targ Airport (EPNT) involving a SZD 50-3 Puchacz glider (registration SP-4015) and a Cessna 152 (registration SP-KER). The glider was returning from a training thermal flight, while the Cessna was conducting a training circuit flight with an instructor and a student pilot. The glider pilot held a glider pilot license (SPL) with 156 hours total glider time. The Cessna instructor held a commercial pilot license (CPL(A)) with FI(R) rating and 1,400 hours total time. The student pilot was under instruction.
Incident Description
The glider pilot decided to land after approximately 15 minutes of flight and flew towards the airport from a northeast direction. He intended to enter the right-hand circuit for runway 30 (grass). He radioed the flight director about his intentions but did not receive confirmation. He heard the flight director giving commands to the winch operator for launching another glider, so he did not repeat his call, believing radio silence was necessary during winch launch. Meanwhile, the Cessna was flying a left-hand circuit. The student pilot reported being on the downwind leg for runway 30 and received clearance as number one for landing. As the Cessna turned from base to final, the glider was approaching the same position from the right-hand circuit. Both pilots saw each other on conflicting courses. The glider pilot estimated the distance at about 100 meters ahead and slightly below to the right; the Cessna instructor estimated 100–110 meters ahead and slightly above to the right. The Cessna instructor took control and both pilots executed evasive maneuvers to the left, avoiding a collision. They passed each other with an estimated separation of about 25 meters. The glider landed first, followed by the Cessna.
Analysis
The investigation determined that both aircraft were airworthy and their crews held valid licenses and medical certificates. Meteorological conditions were suitable for VFR flight and did not contribute. The flight director was momentarily focused on a winch launch and did not observe the positions of the aircraft in the circuit. The glider pilot did not repeat his radio call. The crews of both aircraft insufficiently monitored radio communication and did not maintain adequate visual lookout in the circuit.
Probable Cause
The investigation stated the cause of the serious incident as: insufficient airspace observation by the glider pilot and the airplane crew during circuit flight, and improper monitoring of radio communication by the crews of the involved aircraft. A contributing factor was the flight director's temporary focus on a winch-launching glider, resulting in a lack of observation of aircraft movement in the circuit.