What happened
On June 23, 2020, at 11:31 LMT, a SZD-41 Jantar Standard glider, registration SP-2686, departed from Lubin Airport (EPLU) following a powered aircraft for a cross-country flight. After takeoff, the pilot utilized an initial thermal to gain altitude and proceeded along the planned route. While flying against strong winds to reach a line of Cumulus clouds, the pilot was unable to locate further thermal lift.
Due to insufficient altitude, the pilot decided to perform an off-field landing in an unprepared area. While searching for additional thermals near the chosen landing site, the pilot descended to approximately 300 meters, extended the landing gear, and initiated the landing maneuver. During the flare, the pilot noticed that the selected field was covered in tall, uneven grass and subsequently closed the air brakes to maintain speed. Upon touchdown, the left wing caught in the tall vegetation, causing the aircraft to decelerate abruptly and enter a left-hand ground loop. There were no injuries to the pilot, though the glider sustained significant damage.
The investigation
The PKBWL examined the final report submitted by the aircraft operator regarding the off-field landing. The investigation focused on the sequence of the landing maneuver, the condition of the landing site, and the pilot's decision-making process regarding altitude and terrain selection.