What happened
On August 1, 2020, a 19-year-old pilot with 64 flight hours departed from Lisie Kąty (EPGI) aerodrome in an SZD-51-1 Junior glider, registration SP-4072. The purpose of the flight was training in thermal soaring within the vicinity of the airfield.
After more than one hour of flight, the pilot lost contact with thermal lift. Due to the loss of altitude and being approximately 25 km away from the departure airfield, returning to the home base became unfeasible. Consequently, the pilot decided to perform an outlanding in an unprepared field. Unable to locate a suitable clearing, the pilot attempted to land in a field of tall rye.
During the landing roll, the wingtip caught on the tall crops, which triggered a ground loop (rotation). The pilot sustained no injuries, but the SZD-51-1 Junior sustained damage.
The investigation
The PKBWL examined the circumstances surrounding the loss of lift and the subsequent decision-making process regarding the outlanding. The investigation focused on the pilot's experience level and the physical conditions of the landing site.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was the loss of thermal lift under conditions that prevented a return to the departure airfield.
- The direct cause of the aircraft damage was the decision to land in high crops, which led to the wingtip striking the rye and causing the glider to rotate.
- The pilot's limited experience in performing outlandings in unprepared terrain acted as a contributing factor to the incident.