What happened
On 19 September 2023, a 55-year-old pilot operating a Fly Synthesis Storch CL, registration OK-TUV 61, crashed near the Brzeska Wola airfield (EPBI) in Poland. The pilot had recently purchased the aircraft in the Czech Republic and was conducting a ferry flight toward Poland.
Earlier that day, the pilot had contacted the co-owner of the Brzeska Wola airfield to inquire about fuel availability, expressing his intention to land there. At approximately 17:30 hrs, witnesses observed the aircraft flying at an altitude of about 150 meters AGL, circling the airfield before heading east. Shortly thereafter, the aircraft disappeared behind a treeline, followed by the sound of a heavy impact. The aircraft had nose-dived into a blueberry plantation in a near-vertical position.
Emergency services arrived at the scene and had to cut into the wreckage to recover the pilot. Despite being transported to a hospital in critical condition, the pilot succumbed to extensive multiple-organ injuries.
The investigation
The PKBWL investigation examined the wreckage, the engine, and the pilot's preparations. Investigators confirmed that the aircraft's control systems remained functional after the impact. An inspection of the engine revealed that the propeller blades had broken off from the hub, and their position indicated that the engine was not running at the time of impact.
Fuel analysis showed that the engine was being supplied from the left tank, with fuel present in both carburetor float chambers. The investigation also noted that the pilot had prepared detailed flight notes containing radio frequencies, operating parameters, and speed settings, suggesting a high level of flight preparation. The aircraft was not equipped with an ELT.