Incident Description
On 25 June 2024, a 52-year-old student pilot conducted solo flights as part of basic glider training. After completing check flights behind a tow aircraft, the pilot successfully performed his first solo flight. The second flight proceeded normally until the landing flare. The pilot flared too high above the ground, causing the glider to stall and subsequently make a hard landing on the grass runway. The landing roll ended on the belly, with the undercarriage sheared off and the fuselage structure compromised. The pilot exited the cockpit unaided and sustained no injuries.
During training, the student had not exhibited a tendency toward landing errors, or had corrected any errors in a timely manner.
Cause
The cause of the incident was the student pilot's improper distribution of attention during the approach to landing.
Contributing Factor
A contributing factor was the student's possible excessive focus on maintaining the approach profile, which led to a failure to notice that the flare occurred at a height insufficient for a gentle touchdown.
Preventive Actions
The organization conducting the training took the following preventive measures: during the pre-flight briefing on the next flying day, the incident was discussed with flying personnel. Before further solo flights, the student was required to complete additional dual flights with an instructor, who was to pay particular attention to proper landing technique and the student's error correction. Observations and results from these remedial flights were to be recorded in the student's training documentation.
The Polish State Commission on Aircraft Accident Investigation (PKBWL) accepted these actions and issued no additional safety recommendations.