What happened
On July 13, 2020, at Gliwce Airport (EPGL), a training flight was underway involving a student and an instructor. The flight was being conducted in an SZD-9 bis 1E Bocian glider, registration SP-3799, as part of a specialized training syllabus focused on emergency procedures and handling special situations. The flight utilized a winch launch method.
The mission required the student to execute a specific maneuver: the winch cable was to be released at a pre-arranged altitude of approximately 30 meters, after which the student would stabilize the aircraft and perform a landing on the runway centerline. However, during this flight, the winch operator terminated the cable tension at an altitude of approximately 60 to 70 meters. Upon this early release, the instructor took control of the aircraft to manage the approach.
To lose altitude, the instructor deployed the aerodynamic brakes and initiated a glide. During the final phase of the approach, the instructor determined that a straight-in landing would result in the glider overshooting the runway boundaries. To prevent the aircraft from rolling off the airfield, the instructor executed a flat left turn. During this maneuver, the left wing of the glider made contact with the ground. The aircraft subsequently landed on a traverse and came to a halt on the airport apron. There were no injuries to the crew, and the aircraft sustained damage to the left wing's leading edge.
The investigation
The PKBWL examined the sequence of events following the early termination of the winch pull and the subsequent decision-making process by the instructor during the landing approach. The investigation focused on the altitude at which the cable was released and the resulting flight path.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was the attempt to land straight-in from an insufficient altitude following the premature termination of the winch pull.
- The instructor's decision to execute a left turn to avoid overshooting the runway led to the wing strike.