What happened
On June 23, 2020, at approximately 13:35 LMT, a SZD-38A Jantar 1 glider, registration SP-2790, was performing its third winch-assisted takeoff of the day at the Kielce (EPKA) aerodrome. During the takeoff roll, the glider's wing made contact with the ground, causing the aircraft to veer sharply to the right. The pilot did not immediately abort the takeoff or release the winch cable.
The aircraft reached an altitude of approximately 10 to 20 meters before the winch operator, noticing the glider's abnormal attitude—which included a rightward yaw of over 90 degrees and a significant right bank—intervened by cutting the winch cable. Following the release, the glider struck the ground with its right wing, followed by the fuselage and the left wing. The impact resulted in the total destruction of the aircraft. The pilot exited the aircraft unassisted and sustained no injuries.
The investigation
The PKBWL examined the sequence of events, the surface conditions at the aerodrome, and the actions taken by both the pilot and the winch operator. The investigation focused on the loss of lateral stability during the initial phase of the takeoff roll and the environmental factors present at the time of the accident.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was pilot error involving a delayed reaction to the loss of lateral stability during the takeoff roll, which led to the wing catching the grassy surface.
- The grass height at the airfield was excessively high, contributing to the wing strike.
- The winch operator lacked sufficient experience in launching gliders with large wingspans and low climb rates.
- A potential shift in wind direction during the takeoff roll may have occurred and was not accounted for by the pilot.