What happened
On June 16, 2019, during the second day of the Ostrów Glide gliding competition, a SZD-48.1M Jantar Std. 2M glider, registration SP-3887, was participating in a Club A class event. The flight began at Michałków Airport (EPOM), where the pilot departed at approximately 10:32 local time. After releasing from the winch at an altitude of about 640 m, the pilot flew northwest, away from the airfield.
While utilizing thermal currents, the glider was drifted downwind by a 30 km/s south-easterly wind, eventually reaching a distance of approximately 9 km from the airport. As the pilot was unable to find further lift, the aircraft's altitude decreased. GPS data indicates that at approximately 284 m, the pilot extended the landing gear but subsequently retracted it, likely after observing temporary increases in altitude.
As the glider approached a field near Szczury for an off-field landing, the pilot attempted a maneuver to align the aircraft with a chosen landing area. During a right-hand turn at low altitude, the aircraft entered a spin. The impact with the ground occurred almost vertically, with the left wing striking the earth first, followed by the fuselage and the right wing. The pilot sustained fatal injuries at the scene.
The investigation
The PKBWL investigation examined GPS flight tracks, noise level recordings, and the physical wreckage. The investigators analyzed the pilot's flight path relative to the wind direction and the aircraft's aerodynamic behavior during the final maneuvers. The investigation also considered the pilot's decision-making process regarding the landing site and the specific handling characteristics of the SZD-48.1M Jantar Std. 2M during high-stress maneuvers.