What happened
On June 16, 2019, at approximately 20:00 LMT, an ultralight VL-3, registration SP-SWAT, was performing circuit training at the Konstancin Obory airfield. The pilot had already completed two landings on runway 30 and was conducting a third circuit. The flight proceeded without issue until the final approach phase.
As the aircraft reached the flare altitude, a sudden wind gust occurred. The pilot was unable to maintain control of the aircraft, resulting in the plane bouncing twice on the runway before a hard landing was completed. The impact caused damage to the propeller, the lower engine cowling, and the front landing gear strut. The pilot was able to exit the aircraft uninjured.
The investigation
The PKBWL investigation focused on the sequence of events during the landing phase and the pilot's response to environmental conditions. The investigation established that the weather conditions were within Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC) during the day, though wind gusts of approximately 3-4 m/s were present. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's experience, noting that while the pilot held valid medical and qualification certificates, they had approximately 64 total flight hours, with only 14 hours and 30 minutes specifically logged on the VL-3 type.