Accident Overview
On 13 July 2019, at approximately 14:54 local time, a glider accident occurred near Krosno airfield (EPKR). The glider, a SZD-30 Pirat (registration SP-2573), was conducting a training flight for thermal soaring (task V, exercise 1) under the supervision of an instructor. Weather conditions were VMC and were determined to have no influence on the accident.
Aircraft and Pilot Information
The glider was operated by Aeroklub Podkarpacki Szkoła Lotnicza. The pilot was a 56-year-old male student with a total glider flight time of 15 hours and 39 minutes across 150 flights. His medical certificate for class 2 had expired on 2 July 2019, but he held a LAPL valid to 2 July 2020 with a VNL restriction. The glider was airworthy and had all required documentation.
Flight Sequence
The pilot launched by winch at 15:38 local time. After release at approximately 350 m AGL, he began circling over the airport building to gain altitude in a thermal. The instructor observed the glider losing altitude and at about 200 m instructed the pilot to return to the airfield. After repeated instructions, the pilot turned toward the downwind leg of the left-hand circuit for runway 11, intending a 180° approach to landing. While over the hangars at approximately 150 m, the glider was descending at 1.5 m/s. During a left turn at 85 km/h between 50-70 m, the bank angle increased to about 45°. The glider then entered a sideslip, pitching nose-down. The left wing struck a power line pole and a tree, breaking the top of the pole and the tree. The glider subsequently impacted the ground, resulting in complete destruction of the airframe.
Post-Accident Actions
The pilot exited the cockpit unaided. Rescue services, police, and the Polish State Commission for Aircraft Accident Investigation (PKBWL) were notified. The pilot was transported to a hospital and treated for serious injuries.
Probable Cause
The investigation did not explicitly state a probable cause in the final report.