Event Description
On 6 August 2020, a training flight was conducted on a glider SZD-9 Bis 1E Bocian, registration SP-3035, at Laszki airfield (EPJL). The flight was an examination flight with an instructor and a student pilot, performing task SPL I/7. Before launch, the instructor agreed with the winch operator that the tow would be released at a lower altitude than usual to simulate an emergency situation.
After the tow was released at an altitude of 100-120 meters, the student pilot secured the airspeed, released the tow cable, and opened the airbrakes fully with the intention of performing a straight-ahead landing. After losing 30-40 meters of altitude, the instructor assessed that the distance to the end of the airfield was insufficient for a safe landing. The instructor also considered that closing the airbrakes, performing a 180-degree turn, and landing in the opposite direction was too dangerous due to the low altitude. Therefore, the instructor took over the controls and performed a sideslip with the airbrakes open to lose altitude more rapidly.
The glider touched down at an increased speed, approximately 150 meters from the end of the runway. During the landing roll-out, the left wing struck the winch, and the glider came to a stop.
Causes
The investigation determined the following causes of the accident:
- Incorrect decision of the student pilot to land straight ahead.
- Incorrect decision of the instructor to continue with the straight-ahead landing.
Contributing Circumstances
The instruction flight was performed on a glider equipped with an altimeter with a scale in meters, while the examining instructor normally trained on a glider equipped with an altimeter with a scale in feet.
Preventive Actions
The participants of the flight discussed the course of the event, and procedures for special and emergency situations were reviewed.
Safety Recommendations
No safety recommendations were formulated.