What happened
On June 29, 2019, a pilot operating an ASG-29E glider, registration D-KCEI, departed from Olsztyn Dajtki (EPOD) airport intended to complete a 400 km cross-country flight involving four turning points. Following the first waypoint, the pilot decided to terminate the mission due to poor thermal conditions.
While flying near Barczewo over an area characterized by agricultural fields with tall grain, the pilot attempted to start the glider's auxiliary engine at an altitude of approximately 600 m. Although the engine column and propeller extended from the engine compartment, multiple attempts to start the engine were unsuccessful. Consequently, the pilot initiated an emergency landing in a field at an altitude of 300–400 m.
During the final phase of the landing, the glider's forward speed decreased abruptly when the left wing became caught in the tall crops. This caused the aircraft to pivot approximately 90 degrees to the left relative to the landing direction. The force of the landing resulted in the breakage of the tail boom approximately 1.5 m from the leading edge of the vertical stabilizer. The pilot exited the aircraft uninjured.
The investigation
The investigation examined the mechanical state of the aircraft and the circumstances leading to the engine failure. While the engine's malfunction could not be definitively determined during inspection, investigators noted that the failure to start might have been caused by a limit switch malfunction, which prevented the electrical circuit from closing while the drive was in the extended position. The pilot's experience was also reviewed, noting approximately 1,702 total glider flight hours, including 123 hours on this specific type.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the left wing being caught by tall crops during the off-field landing.
- The unsuccessful attempt to start the auxiliary engine acted as a contributing factor to the decision to land in the field.