What happened
On April 29, 2024, a training flight was being conducted at the Płock airfield in Poland. The pilot was undergoing instruction on a new aircraft type, the SZD-42-2 Jantar 2B, under the supervision of an instructor who is also the aircraft owner. The flight plan consisted of two circuit flights at 300 meters and one high-altitude flight at 700 meters.
Following a successful first flight, the pilot commenced the second flight. After releasing from the tow plane at approximately 400 meters, the pilot performed a circuit. During the downwind leg, the pilot reported that the landing gear had been extended and locked. During the final approach, the glider encountered an area of descending air. While flying at a low altitude and low airspeed over an area containing allotment gardens, the right wing of the SZD-42-2 Jantar 2B struck a tree. The impact caused the aircraft to rotate approximately 180 degrees to the right, leaving it suspended in the tree. There were no injuries to the pilot.
The investigation
The PKBWL examined the pilot's experience, noting that while the pilot held valid documentation, annual flight hours between 2020 and 2024 had been very low, totaling only a few hours per year. The investigation also reviewed the aircraft's configuration, noting that the pilot had set the flaps to the +2 position and maintained a speed of approximately 110 km/h. The investigation further analyzed the meteorological conditions, specifically the presence of strong turbulence and thermals during the tow, followed by the encounter with descending air during the approach.
Findings
- The pilot's recent flight experience was limited due to low annual flight hours.
- The aircraft was configured with flaps in the +2 position during the approach.
- The glider encountered an area of descending air during the landing phase.
- The pilot failed to increase airspeed while flying through the descending air.
- The low altitude and low airspeed during the approach over the gardens led to the wing strike.