Incident Overview
On 17 July 2020, a glider incident occurred at Białystok airfield (EPBK). The aircraft involved was an SZD 48-3 Jantar Std 3 glider, registration SP-3263. The pilot, aged 28 with a total flight time of 415 hours, was performing a winch launch. The glider lifted off normally and transitioned to a climb.
Sequence of Events
At approximately 30 meters altitude, the towline released automatically. The pilot immediately secured the airspeed by firmly pushing the control stick forward. After stabilizing the flight, the glider was at about 10 meters. The pilot made a correct decision to land straight ahead. The landing occurred on a part of the airfield that was overgrown with tall grass. Only a narrow strip for the towline retrieval vehicle had been mowed.
Upon touchdown, the right wing snagged the tall grass, causing the glider to rapidly rotate 360 degrees. The impact resulted in damage to the right aileron and the cockpit. The pilot sustained no injuries.
Findings
The Polish State Commission for Aircraft Accident Investigation determined that the cause of the incident was the emergency landing of the glider on an unmown part of the airfield and the wing catching high grass.
Safety Actions
The operator's Safety Manager reviewed the incident with the instructor staff and the training chief. The causes were analyzed, and special attention was drawn to dangerous situations related to towline release or breakage during winch launches. All club pilots were informed about the incident.
No safety recommendations were formulated by the Commission.