What happened
On June 25, 2024, a 52-year-old student pilot was conducting basic glider training at Michałków (EPOM) airport. Following successful check flights conducted behind a tow plane, the student completed their first solo flight without incident. During the second solo flight, the initial approach was performed correctly; however, as the pilot attempted to level off for landing, the aircraft was leveled off at too high an altitude. This maneuver led to a stall, resulting in a hard landing on the grass runway. The aircraft's landing gear was broken and the fuselage structure was damaged as the glider came to a stop on its belly. The student pilot sustained no injuries and was able to exit the cockpit unaided.
The investigation
The investigation examined the flight sequence and the student's training progress. Records indicated that during previous training sessions, the student had not demonstrated a pattern of landing errors and had been capable of correcting mistakes in a timely manner. The investigation focused on the pilot's actions during the final approach phase of the second solo flight.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was the improper division of the student pilot's attention during the landing approach.
- A contributing factor was the student's possible excessive concentration on maintaining the approach profile, which resulted in a failure to notice that the leveling-off altitude was insufficient to ensure a smooth touchdown.