What happened
On May 11, 2023, a pilot was conducting a recreational gliding flight starting from the Białystok/Krywlany airport (EPBK). The flight involved a 117 km route with two turning points. After reaching the second turning point, the pilot began the approach back to the home aerodrome. However, while flying over the city of Białystzkod, the pilot realized that the current altitude was insufficient to clear the urban area or to turn back toward suitable landing fields.
At an altitude of approximately 204 meters, the pilot attempted to find an emergency landing site. After rejecting a street due to the risk of colliding with light poles, the pilot selected a parking lot located between railway tracks. While flying parallel to the tracks, the pilot failed to notice lightning rods mounted on fuel storage tanks. The left wing of the SZD-48-3 “Jantar Std. 3”, registration SP-3263, struck one of these masts. This impact caused the glider to spin, subsequently striking a tank wall and a tree before crashing into the ground. The pilot sustained serious injuries but was able to exit the cockpit independently.
The investigation
The PKBWL investigation examined the flight data, including the pilot's use of onboard navigation computers (Westerboer VW 921 and XCSoar). The investigation focused on the pilot's decision-making process, the accuracy of the flight computer settings, and the environmental conditions, including a significant headwind and areas of sinking air. The investigators also analyzed the aircraft's structural damage and the factors that contributed to the pilot's survival.
Findings
- The pilot relied exclusively on onboard computer indications for the approach rather than performing independent calculations.
- The flight computer was configured with incorrect destination coordinates, which only accounted for a point 3 km from the aerodrome rather than the airport itself.
- The pilot entered the urban area at an altitude that did not allow for a safe continuation of the flight to the airport.
- The pilot failed to select an emergency landing site at the required altitude of 500 m, instead searching for a site at only 250 m.
- The pilot's attention was heavily absorbed by the flight computer, leading to a loss of situational awareness regarding the terrain and obstacles.
- The impact with the lightning rod was mitigated by a reduced ground speed caused by the headwind, which limited the energy of the collision.