What happened
On 25 June 2023, a Cessna C-1-82L Skylane, registration D-EDYP, was conducting parachute jump operations from the Jelenia Góra aerodrome (EPJG). During the third flight of the day, the pilot released jumpers at an altitude of 3,000 m AGL near Góra Szybowcowa. While performing a low and long approach to runway 28, the pilot experienced an engine stall.
In an attempt to maintain glide range, the pilot retracted the flaps. However, approximately 700 m before the runway threshold, the left wing of the aircraft struck a tree. This impact caused the aircraft to lose forward airspeed and enter an uncontrolled three-quarter horizontal turn, striking an earthen embankment flat and vertically. The aircraft finally came to rest in a shallow water reservoir used for the City of Jelenia Góra's water intake. The pilot sustained minor injuries and was able to exit the cabin independently.
The investigation
The PKBWL investigation focused on the engine failure and the aircraft's technical state. Investigators found that the fuel system was intact and the tanks were tight, but the right-wing tank was empty. The fuel selector was set to the right tank, and although the pilot had added fuel before each flight, the total fuel available was insufficient for the flight duration.
Technical inspections revealed significant maintenance concerns. The engine, a Continental O-470-R, was 25 years old, exceeding its recommended time between overhaul. The propeller was also past its time-based overhaul limit. Additionally, the aircraft lacked essential technical documentation, such as an Aircraft Maintenance Programme (AMP) or a complete maintenance history. The investigation also noted that the parachute jump organizer was operating without an Air Operator Certificate (AOC) and without the necessary authorizations for specialized operations.
Findings
- The immediate cause of the engine stall was fuel starvation.
- The collision with ground obstacles was caused by the pilot's failure to realize the engine had stalled and an incorrectly executed approach that was too low and too flat to reach the runway in a glide.
- The pilot's lack of experience with the Cessna C-182L and with parachute jump operations contributed to the accident.
- The pilot was suffering from fatigue following a night of driving.
- The parachute jump operations were organized in a chaotic manner without proper regulatory oversight.