What happened
On July 9, 2020, at approximately 20:24 local time, a student pilot was performing a solo training flight at the Laszki airfield (EPJL) in Poland. The flight was being conducted using a winch launch method. After the initial takeoff phase, the SZD-50-3 "Puchacz", registration SP-3322, entered a steep climb.
An instructor monitoring the flight from the ground observed the aircraft maintaining an excessive angle of attack and issued a radio command to the student to reduce the pitch. While the student appeared to respond to the instruction, the climb angle remained too steep. Consequently, the glider lost airspeed and entered a stall at an altitude of approximately 70 to 80 meters. The aircraft rolled to the left and descended at a steep angle of roughly 70 degrees. The winch operator terminated the tow, but the glider struck the ground near a drainage ditch, causing the cockpit to be destroyed and the tail boom to fracture.
The investigation
The PKBWL investigation examined the student's training records, the aircraft's technical condition, and the flight sequence. The investigation confirmed that the student was legally qualified to perform solo flights on this aircraft type and had passed all necessary theoretical and practical checks. The instructor supervising the flight was also fully qualified.
Technical inspections of the SP-3032 revealed that the glider was airworthy and all required documentation was in order. The winch, cable, and release mechanism were inspected and found to be in good working condition with no signs of excessive wear. The investigation also noted that the student had been working as a winch operator earlier that day but had a period of rest prior to the flight. The investigation was unable to determine the exact position of the flight controls or airbrake levers at the moment of impact due to the total destruction of the cockpit.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was pilot error involving improper flight technique, specifically maintaining an excessive pitch angle during the winch launch, which led to a loss of airspeed and a subsequent stall.
- The student's limited experience on this specific aircraft type acted as a contributing factor.
- Long intervals between training flights had likely hindered the maintenance of consistent piloting habits.
- Meteorological conditions were clear and did not contribute to the accident.