Event
On 11 September 2023, the Podkarpacki Aeroclub organized training glider flights using a winch launch at Krosno airfield (EPKR). Operations were conducted from grass runway PS-1, direction 29. At approximately 18:55 local time, a student pilot began his ninth flight of the day. After releasing the towline, he performed a normal traffic circuit. During the final turn, at a height of about 150 meters, he opened the airbrakes. The glider began to lose altitude rapidly. The instructor issued a radio command to retract the airbrakes. The student pilot reacted incorrectly and instead opened the full airbrakes. As a result, the glider landed before the runway threshold, approximately 240 meters east of the threshold of runway 29.
Injuries and Damage
The student pilot sustained serious injuries. The glider, a KR-03A Puchatek (registration SP-3493), was not damaged.
Cause
The investigation identified the following causes: 1) Student pilot error consisting of opening the full airbrakes during the approach to landing; 2) Incorrect reaction by the student pilot to the instructor's command.
No contributing factors were established.
Preventive Actions
The investigating body proposed and implemented the following preventive actions:
- The event was discussed with instructors;
- Additional training flights were conducted with the student pilot;
- The event will be discussed during the annual Safety Conference.
No safety recommendations were formulated.