Event Sequence
On 22 June 2025, a glider pilot holding a Student Pilot License (SPL) planned a round-trip flight from Turbia to Zamość and back. The first launch by winch was unsuccessful. After a second winch launch, the pilot found thermals. The flight to Zamość proceeded normally; the pilot reached the turnpoint at 14:00 LMT at an altitude of 1800 m AMSL. However, the return flight encountered weakening thermics and increasing headwinds. When the pilot was approximately 22 km from the destination airfield, at an altitude of 1100 m AMSL, he attempted to glide back. After covering 17 km, with about 5 km remaining, he concluded he would not make it. Passing a forest complex, he decided to land in an open field. At 18:20, during approach to a fallow field just beyond the trees, the glider's wing struck a tree. At about 2.5 m above ground, the glider entered an uncontrolled rotation, then struck the ground, sustaining substantial damage. The pilot was uninjured and exited the cockpit unaided.
Causes and Contributing Factors
The investigation identified two factors: 1. The pilot's probable decision to force a glide to the airfield despite unfavorable weather and insufficient altitude – a misjudgment of the glider's degraded upwind performance. 2. Landing off-field due to lack of altitude to continue flight, without executing a proper landing preparation maneuver and contrary to regulations and good practice – the pilot did not select a suitable field for the off-field landing.
Preventive Actions
The operating aero club decided that the pilot required additional training in preparation for landing in confined areas, both theoretical and practical. No safety recommendations were issued by the commission.