What happened
On May 3, 2020, a training flight was being conducted at the Laszki airfield (EPJL) using a winch launch method. The flight involved an instructor and a student performing specialized training maneuvers (SPL/I exercise 4) focused on emergency procedures.
During the fourth flight of the day, the winch cable was released at an altitude of approximately 140 meters. The student pilot successfully released the cable but then deviated the flight path to the left, away from the airfield axis, intending to perform a landing with a wind component. At an altitude of about 80 meters, roughly 400 meters past the western edge of the airfield, the student began a right-hand turn back toward the landing area.
Due to the low altitude, the instructor took control of the aircraft to maintain the approach. As the glider approached the airfield, it entered an area of light drizzle and increased downdrafts. Finding no suitable terrain for an emergency landing before the runway, the instructor continued the approach toward the airfield. During the flight over the perimeter fence, the glider's left wing struck a concrete fence post at minimum airspeed. Simultaneously, the right wing caught on bushes located in a nearby ditch, causing the aircraft to roll to the right. This resulted in a hard landing on the grass area ahead of the runway.
As a result of the impact with the post, the left wingtip was broken off at the aileron. The force of the landing caused the landing gear to collapse and the tail boom to break away from the fuselage. The crew sustained no injuries.
The investigation
The PKBWL examined the flight sequence, the maneuvers performed by the student, and the instructor's intervention. The investigation focused on the decision-making process regarding the flight path deviation and the impact of environmental conditions on the aircraft's performance during the final approach.
Findings
- The instructor's reaction to the student pilot's error (the deviation from the airfield) was delayed.
- The instructor failed to decide on an emergency landing in the open field located before the airfield when the turn back to the landing area was initiated.
- The presence of drizzle and increased downdrafts acted as contributing factors by reducing visibility and affecting the glider's sink rate.