Ultralight Aircraft Strikes Power Line During Low Pass in Poland

Casualties unknown • Węglew Kolonia / Golina, PL

An ultralight aircraft struck a medium-voltage power line while performing a low-level pass near Węglew Kolonia, resulting in an emergency landing.

What happened

On April 29, 2024, at 18:42 LMT, an Eurostar EV 97 aircraft, registration D-MSSQ, departed from the Kazimierze Biskupie (EPKB) airfield for a planned sightseeing flight. After approximately 20 minutes of flight, the pilot navigated to the vicinity of the Węglew Kolonia landing field, located approximately 8 km south of the departure airfield.

The pilot intended to perform a low-level pass over the landing field without landing. After executing a right-hand circuit, the pilot initiated a low approach from the west. During this approach, the aircraft flew directly into the sun, which obscured visibility. As the aircraft reached the beginning of the landing field, the landing gear struck a medium-voltage power line positioned across the approach path near a road. The impact caused the line to break, with a portion of the wire becoming entangled around the propeller and the nose gear.

Recognizing the emergency, the pilot shut down the engine and performed an emergency landing in a nearby agricultural field parallel to the landing strip. The pilot sustained no injuries and exited the cabin unassisted. The aircraft sustained minor damage.

The investigation

The PKBWL examined the flight path, the environmental conditions at the time of the incident, and the pilot's approach maneuvers to determine the factors leading to the contact with the power line.

Probable cause

The incident was caused by an inadequately planned low-altitude flight maneuver combined with solar glare that obscured the presence of overhead power lines.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2024-04-29 Evektor EV97 accident near Węglew Kolonia / Golina, PL?

An ultralight aircraft struck a medium-voltage power line while performing a low-level pass near Węglew Kolonia, resulting in an emergency landing.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2024-04-29 involved a Evektor EV97, registration D-MSSQ, operated by Prywatny (Private), at Węglew Kolonia / Golina, PL.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The incident was caused by an inadequately planned low-altitude flight maneuver combined with solar glare that obscured the presence of overhead power lines.

Investigation report by the Polish State Commission on Aircraft Accidents Investigation (PKBWL). Original record: https://pkbwl.gov.pl/raporty/2024-0019/. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the Panstwowa Komisja Badania Wypadkow Lotniczych (PKBWL), Poland.

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