Event Description
On 11 September 2024, glider flight operations were conducted at Piotrków Trybunalski Airport (EPPT), utilizing runway 21L, a grass strip, and a winch launch system. Training flights were being performed with a SZD-50-3 Puchacz glider, while licensed pilots flew single-seat gliders for practice. At approximately 13:00 LMT, the pilot of a Grob G102 Astir CS, registration SP-3841, was at an altitude of about 300 m AGL near the third turn of the traffic pattern after a roughly 20-minute thermal flight. From that position, the pilot radioed an intention to land. At the same time, the winch cable was being re-tensioned for a launch of a SZD-30 Pirat glider. The Pirat's pilot heard the Astir's radio call about landing. While on final approach, the Astir pilot observed the Pirat on the ground at the intended landing spot. The Pirat, hooked to the winch cable, was moving slowly along the takeoff direction. A command from the glider start point to begin the winch pull was issued but was unintelligible to the winch operator. The command "start" was then repeated by an instructor who was airborne. However, the winch operator reported aborting the cable tensioning because the Astir was seen on final. The Pirat pilot released the cable and the glider stopped. The landing Astir was on short final, but its pilot did not hear the relevant radio transmissions. The Astir pilot reduced speed to delay landing and avoid a possible collision with the Pirat. At minimum speed, the Astir flew just over the Pirat, then stalled and touched down hard, first on its tail and then striking the ground with the forward fuselage. The glider sustained significant damage. The pilot of the Astir was not injured.
Causes and Contributing Factors
The investigation identified the following causes and contributing factors: 1. Incorrect execution of the landing approach resulting in loss of speed and a stall of the glider before touchdown. 2. Unintelligible radio communication between the glider start point, winch operator, and the Pirat pilot, which caused the glider to obstruct the landing path of the Astir pilot. 3. Lack of decision by the Astir pilot to select an unoccupied part of the airfield for landing.
Safety Actions
The operator implemented preventive measures: reorganization of glider flight operations at Aeroklub Ziemi Piotrkowskiej. Before pilots begin thermal flights, a glider instructor must be present at the glider launch point to supervise ground movements and glider launches, and to manage radio communication in coordination with the flight director. The airport manager took actions to expand the usable area of the airfield for glider operations by developing an unused portion of the takeoff area. No further safety recommendations were formulated.