What happened
On July 15, 2022, a pilot performing their first flight in an SZD-3SB A Jantar 1 glider arrived at Krosno airport (EPKR) after a 200 km cross-country flight. Upon approaching the airfield from the east, the pilot announced an intention to perform a low pass. During this maneuver, the pilot entered a shallow dive to gain speed, reaching a minimum altitude near the threshold of runway 11L. Following a turn, the pilot attempted a landing on runway 16, which resulted in a landing with a tailwind.
Despite repeated instructions from the flight information service to extend the landing gear, the glider struck the grass runway on its belly. The impact was severe, causing the glider to skid along the surface until it came to a stop. The pilot escaped the accident without injuries, but the aircraft sustained extensive damage, including longitudinal cracks in the fuselage, a detached rudder, and a destroyed cockpit canopy.
The investigation
The PKBWL investigation focused on the pilot's approach, the aircraft's mechanical state, and the pilot's recent training history. Investigators examined the landing gear mechanism, noting that the pilot believed a rubber cover on the handle might have prevented the gear from unlocking. However, testing after the accident showed the mechanism functioned correctly. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's experience, noting that while the pilot held a valid license, they had not flown a single-seat glider in the 12 months preceding the event and lacked experience with this specific high-performance type.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the improper planning of the landing maneuver, which led to a landing with a tailwind.
- A probable contributing factor was the potential jamming of the landing gear locking mechanism in the retracted position.
- The pilot's lack of recent experience in single-seat gliders and lack of type-specific training made the demanding handling characteristics of the Jantar 1 difficult to manage.
- The execution of a low pass without sufficient airspeed reserves contributed to the unstable approach.
- Non-standard radio communications during the approach further complicated the situation.