Ultralight aircraft capsizes during emergency field landing in Rumin

Casualties unknown • Rumin, PL

A TL2000 Sting S 4 aircraft sustained significant damage after the pilot attempted an emergency landing in a field due to deteriorating visibility.

What happened

On December 31, 2020, at approximately 15:00 local time, a pilot departed from Kazimierze Biskupie Airport (EPKB) for a sightseeing flight in a TL2000 Sting S 4, registration OK-TUA66. During the flight, visibility began to deteriorate significantly due to approaching dusk and dense fog.

By approximately 15:40, the pilot attempted several approach maneuvers at EPKB but determined that landing at the aerodrome was impossible under the prevailing conditions. Faced with insufficient fuel levels to divert to an alternative airport, the pilot elected to perform a precautionary landing in an open area, specifically a plowed field in the village of Rumin. During the second landing attempt, the nose wheel became embedded in the soft ground, causing the aircraft to capsize. The pilot sustained no injuries, though the aircraft suffered significant damage.

Findings

  • The primary cause of the accident was improper flight planning, which resulted in the necessity of an emergency landing as weather conditions worsened.
  • The soft, unstable nature of the terrain at the landing site acted as a contributing factor to the aircraft's nose wheel sinking and the subsequent capsize.

Probable cause

The accident was caused by inadequate flight planning that left the pilot with insufficient fuel to reach an alternate airport once visibility dropped due to fog and dusk, necessitating a landing in unsuitable terrain.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2020-12-31 Samolot UL TL2000 Sting S 4 accident near Rumin, PL?

A TL2000 Sting S 4 aircraft sustained significant damage after the pilot attempted an emergency landing in a field due to deteriorating visibility.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2020-12-31 involved a Samolot UL TL2000 Sting S 4, registration OK-TUA66, at Rumin, PL.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The accident was caused by inadequate flight planning that left the pilot with insufficient fuel to reach an alternate airport once visibility dropped due to fog and dusk, necessitating a landing in unsuitable terrain.

Investigation report by the Polish State Commission on Aircraft Accidents Investigation (PKBWL). Original record: https://pkbwl.gov.pl/raporty/2020-3931/. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the Panstwowa Komisja Badania Wypadkow Lotniczych (PKBWL), Poland.

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