What happened
On June 30, 2020, a pilot was performing a thermal flight in an SZD-51 Junior glider, registration SP-4090, departing from the Piła (EPPI) aerodrome. During the approach to runway 21, the pilot observed several obstacles on and near the runway: a Puchatek glider positioned to the left of the approach path, a Puchacz glider on the adjacent concrete taxiway to the right, and an individual standing in the middle of the grass runway.
In an effort to maintain a safe distance from these obstacles, the pilot deviated the flight path to the right. During this maneuver, the pilot determined that the descent angle had become too steep, leading to an undershoot. The glider touched down on uneven grass terrain in front of the concrete taxiway. The impact caused the aircraft to bounce several meters into the air, losing forward momentum. Upon the second touchdown, the right wing made contact with the ground, causing the aircraft to veer toward the stationary Puchacz glider, resulting in a collision.
There were no injuries to the pilot or any other persons involved in the incident. The collision caused structural damage to the fuselage of the Puchacz and damage to the right wing and cockpit canopy of the SP-4090.
The investigation
The PKBWL examined the sequence of events and the pilot's maneuvers during the final approach. The investigation focused on the pilot's decision-making process regarding obstacle avoidance and the resulting flight path deviation.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was pilot error involving improper planning of the descent path during the landing phase.
- The pilot's attempt to avoid obstacles on the runway led to an unstable approach and an undershoot.