2024 Leszno glider accident: SZD-30 Pirat SP-4028 collides with road infrastructure

Flight history and accident sequence On 19 July 2024, glider, aircraft, and parachute operations were conducted at Leszno airfield. At 16:28 local time, a 52-year-old pilot holding a sailplane pilot licence launched a SZD-30 “Pirat” glider, registration SP-4028, behind a tow aircraft. The pilot’s intended task was a thermal flight near the airfield. After release at 400 m AGL southeast of the airfield, the pilot entered thermal flight. Following a parachute drop announcement, the pilot attempted to leave the lift and move southwest away from the drop zone. While maintaining approximately 450 m AGL south of Strzyżewice, the pilot received a radio message from the jump controller, who believed the glider was in the drop zone. The pilot was uncertain whether the message was addressed to him and believed he was outside the zone. The pilot stopped circling and flew southwest beyond the S5 expressway, which encircles the airfield to the west, while searching for thermals. Turning north, the glider passed over Przybyszewo. According to the pilot’s statement, at 200 m AGL over Lasocice, the pilot turned back toward the airfield and reported on final for runway 05. During the approach, the glider encountered sink, which intensified near the road junction shown in the report. The pilot judged that reaching the runway was not possible and intended to land in fields before the airfield. At 16:45, while passing over road infrastructure at very low altitude and concerned about making a turn, the glider struck a lamp post with its left wing and then hit an earth embankment. The cabin structure remained intact, and the pilot left the wreckage without injury. The total flight time from launch to the accident was 17 minutes.