Flight History
On 15 July 2022, a licensed glider pilot departed from Zamość airfield (ICAO: EPZA) on a SZD-51-1 Junior glider, registration SP-3437. The pilot planned a cross-country flight along a 216.7 km polygon with three turnpoints. The glider was towed aloft at 13:00 local time. After approximately three hours of flight, while at about 280 m above ground level over a forest, the glider encountered a zone of weak lift (1 m/s). The pilot circled once then headed toward a forest clearing where he intended to land. From approximately 100 m, he performed one and a half circles to decide on a landing direction, ultimately landing to the east with a tailwind. According to GPS data, the groundspeed on final approach was about 130 km/h. The glider touched down beyond the first half of the field. During the landing roll, it exited the field into the forest and collided with trees. Emergency services were notified and arrived at the scene.
Injuries
The pilot, a 22-year-old male holding a valid sailplane pilot license with a total of 75 hours flight time (42 hours 18 minutes solo), sustained no injuries. No other persons were involved.
Aircraft Damage
The glider sustained serious damage: the forward fuselage, canopy, wings, vertical and horizontal stabilizers were damaged, and the tail boom was broken. Two small pine trees were broken during the accident.
Other Information
The glider was a single-seat, club-class, laminar-construction training and aerobatic sailplane with a 15 m wingspan, fixed landing gear, and a T-tail. It had a valid Certificate of Registration and Airworthiness Certificate. The pilot had flown 10 hours 55 minutes in the 7 days prior and was qualified on four glider types.
Probable Cause
The investigation determined the following causes: (1) low pilot experience, (2) pilot actions under high stress leading to tactical errors, (3) a decision to land in unprepared terrain made too late, and (4) landing with a tailwind in unprepared terrain.
Safety Recommendations
The investigation did not propose any safety recommendations.