Event Sequence
On 4 June 2025, a pilot flying a SZD-51-1 Junior glider (registration SP-3468) planned a cross-country flight over the Orawsko-Nowotarska Basin. The flight initially headed east toward Lake Czorsztyńskie, then south over the Tatra Mountains, before turning north near Czarny Dunajec in search of weak thermal lift. While traversing near the town of Jordanów, the pilot noticed cumulus clouds further north near the Osielec quarry, where lift might be found. As altitude decreased, while over Bystra Podhalańska at approximately 800 m AGL, the pilot selected two fields for a potential off-field landing.
After reaching the quarry area and finding no updrafts, the pilot turned back toward the preselected landing fields. At about 200 m above ground, he realized that the approach to the larger field was difficult due to numerous terrain obstacles. He decided to land on the second field, which was narrower and slightly uphill but offered a more favorable approach. Via another glider pilot, he radioed 'Nowy Targ Radio' that he would land off-field. He made two circuits over the chosen field, during which he spotted an electric fence on the approach side. He decided to shift the touchdown point by several dozen meters, where the field was laterally sloped. FLARM data showed that the maneuver over the field was performed at low altitude. The approach, made downwind, was so short that the pilot likely did not have time to stabilize approach parameters, particularly to eliminate drift. The landing was on a downward-sloping meadow with tall grass clumps. After touchdown, the left wingtip struck the laterally rising terrain, causing an uncontrolled yaw (ground loop). This resulted in serious structural damage to the glider. The pilot was not injured.
Causes and Contributing Factors
The investigation identified the following causes:
1. Improper approach to landing resulting from mismanagement of height over the field, leading to poor planning of the final turn onto the approach path. 2. The uncontrolled rotation on the ground (ground loop) was caused by landing with a crosswind component and the wingtip striking terrain that sloped laterally to the landing direction, combined with tall grass. 3. The pilot did not account for a tailwind, which carried the glider over the landing field and significantly reduced the time available to configure the glider properly for landing (specifically, establishing the glide angle, eliminating drift, setting speed, and aiming point).
Contributing factors included:
- Difficult, hilly terrain that hampered altitude assessment.
- A scarcity of fields suitable for off-field landing.
- Numerous terrain obstacles in the area.
- The pilot's limited cross-country gliding experience; this was his first off-field landing.
Safety Actions
The investigating body accepted the following preventive actions proposed by the operator (aeroclub):
1. The event was discussed within the organization's Safety Management System (SMS). 2. The organization decided that the pilot requires additional training in landings in so-called 'restricted terrain,' both with an instructor and solo under supervision. 3. The organization determined that pilots with fewer than 100 hours total flight time, before starting the cross-country season, must perform at least three simulated restricted-terrain landings with an instructor and five solo landings on the glider type they intend to use for cross-country flights.
No safety recommendations were issued by the commission.