What happened
On July 24, 2021, at approximately 13:15 LMT, a collision occurred at the EPNL aerodrome in Łososin Dolny involving a Jak-12M, registration SP-AWD, and an Aero AT-3R100, registration SP-CLC.
The Aero AT-3R100 had landed earlier that day for refueling. After completing the refueling process, the aircraft was moved to a position on the grass near the fuel station to clear the apron for the incoming Jak-12M.
Upon completing refueling, the pilot of the Jak-12M started the engine and began taxiing. Due to the high position of the engine cowling and the presence of airport buildings, the pilot had limited forward and lateral visibility. To navigate around the fuel station, the pilot executed a right-hand turn, which led directly into the side of the parked Aero AT-3R100.
The impact caused the Jak-12M engine to stall and resulted in a serious injury to a student pilot who was attempting to enter the cockpit of the AT-3R100 at the moment of impact. The student pilot was thrown from the aircraft and struck by a piece of the Jak-12M's wooden propeller.
The investigation
The PKBWL investigation examined the aircraft's technical condition, the pilot's qualifications, and the airfield layout. The investigation included a physical simulation using the actual Jak-12M aircraft to determine the pilot's blind spots. The study confirmed that the pilot's visibility was significantly obstructed by the engine cowling and the seat parachute. The investigation also reviewed the positioning of the aircraft on the apron and the lack of available maneuvering space for a wider, safer taxi path.