Accident Sequence
On 23 June 2020, at approximately 13:35 LMT, the pilot of a SZD-38A Jantar 1 glider, registration SP-2790, was performing the third winch launch of the day at Kielce (EPKA). During the takeoff roll, the glider struck the ground with its wing and began to veer to the right. The pilot did not release the winch cable. The glider became airborne to a height of 10 to 20 meters. The winch operator observed the glider in an abnormal attitude—deviated more than 90 degrees to the right and banked right—and stopped the winch, cutting the cable. The glider then struck the ground with its right wing, followed by the fuselage and left wing, resulting in complete destruction. The pilot left the glider unaided and sustained no injuries.
Cause
The probable cause was determined as pilot error: a delayed reaction to the loss of lateral balance during the takeoff roll, which led to the glider striking the grassy airfield surface in the initial phase of the winch launch.
Contributing Circumstances
The investigation identified three contributing circumstances: 1. The condition of the grassy surface—grass that was too high. 2. The low experience of the person releasing the glider for launches of high-span gliders with low dihedral. 3. A probable change in wind direction during the launch that the pilot did not take into account.
Proposed Preventive Actions
The investigating body proposed, and the commission accepted, the following preventive actions: 1. Pay attention to grass height during launches of high-span, low-dihedral gliders. 2. Inform and train personnel releasing gliders on the technique for releasing this type of glider and the need for particular attention and precision. 3. Conduct check flights with the pilot for winch launches with an instructor.
The commission did not specify additional safety recommendations.