Incident Overview
On 13 September 2020, a Pipistrel Virus SW ultralight aircraft, operated privately, departed from Sawin airstrip for a recreational flight to Smolnik in the Bieszczady Mountains. The pilot and one passenger were on board. The pilot had contacted the Nad Smolnikiem shelter beforehand and received permission to land, along with information that the runway was mowed and weather conditions were good. According to the shelter's website, the runway was 500 m long, and pilots were advised to land uphill on runway 13 and touch down at the halfway point.
Flight Details
Upon arrival at Smolnik, the pilot performed a low pass to assess the runway. He observed that the left and right edges of the runway were mowed, but the grass was taller in the center. Due to a forest near the left edge, he decided to land closer to the right edge. The pilot estimated that half of the 500 m runway might not be sufficient to stop and opted to touch down closer to the threshold. He made an approach along the right side of the runway and touched down approximately 100 m beyond the threshold at about 70 km/h.
Landing and Runway Excursion
After touchdown, the aircraft rolled for about 100 m with a slight left deviation from the centerline. At a speed of about 46 km/h, the aircraft veered approximately 10° to the right and continued its rollout off the runway for another 130 m. At the end of the rollout, the pilot steered the aircraft, now moving at about 10 km/h, onto a dirt road crossing the runway, where it came to a stop.
Damage and Injuries
The aircraft sustained minor damage to the propeller and the nose wheel with its fairing. No injuries were reported among the pilot and passenger.
Investigation Findings
The investigation determined that weather conditions did not contribute to the incident. The pilot held the necessary licenses and medical certificate, but his experience on ultralight aircraft was limited—approximately 70 hours total, with an additional 200 hours on gyrocopters. This was his first landing at Smolnik.
Available online information about the runway dimensions was inconsistent and inaccurate: the shelter's website indicated 20 x 500 m, another source listed 50 x 500 m, but the actual measured dimensions were 20 x 390 m. The runway surface was uneven, with mowed edges and taller grass in the center.
The pilot's landing speed was appropriate. However, on level ground, this aircraft typically requires about 150 m to stop. The uneven surface reduced braking effectiveness, preventing the aircraft from stopping within the runway boundaries. The aircraft's nose wheel, with small-diameter wheels and fairings, is less effective on rough terrain.
No formal probable cause was stated in the report.