Occurrence
On 22 April 2026, glider flights were conducted at EPBA (Bielsko-Biała/Aleksandrowice) using aerotow. The flight director arranged a launch point east of the airport. Launches were exclusively for single-seat gliders, starting from the beginning of runway 27. An ultralight WT-9 Dynamic aircraft, piloted by an experienced instructor, performed towing.
Weather conditions were good, with a moderate west wind up to 8 m/s along the runway axis. Cumulus thermals were developing around the airport.
A glider pilot with a valid Sailplane Pilot Licence prepared his Ventus-C for a thermal flight: assembled the glider, conducted a pre-flight inspection, and towed it to the launch point. The first launch was a self-launching glider; the second was an SZD-55-1 on tow. Both launches were normal. After landing, the tow plane taxied to the Ventus.
According to the glider pilot, after entering the cockpit he performed a pre-start check, and after the towline was connected, he reported readiness. Shortly before 11:30 local time, the tow team began the takeoff roll. Acceleration and lift-off were typical. Witnesses observed that shortly after lift-off, the glider's airbrakes extended. In that configuration, the team could not climb. The team flew just above the airport fence on the west side, passed a bicycle path, and disappeared from the flight director's view.
The tow pilot was aware the tow was not proceeding properly. Despite inability to climb and decreasing airspeed, he did not release the glider. He realised that if he did, the glider pilot would be forced to land straight ahead in an unsuitable area. To avoid flying over densely populated residential areas, the tow pilot initiated a shallow turn toward the mountains, where small fields and wasteland south of the airport offered better chances for an off-runway landing. The entire flight was at low speed and very low altitude. The terrain to the southwest and south allowed continued flight.
During the tow, shortly after takeoff, the glider pilot requested (by radio) increased tow speed. The tow pilot replied that this would be possible when the glider pilot closed the airbrakes. The tow pilot observed in a mirror that the airbrakes remained open throughout the flight. He twice asked the glider pilot to close them, but the glider pilot did not hear or understand the communication.
After executing a 270-degree turn, when the team was perpendicular to the airport axis and just before its southern edge, the glider pilot released the towline (see figure 1). Witnesses estimated the release altitude at about 50 m above the airport. This part of the flight was recorded by a witness's mobile phone from about 600 m north of the airport. Immediately after release, with increasing left bank, the glider descended rapidly. It touched down at the very end of a ploughed field sown with winter crops, then after a ground run of about 25 m, collided with trees, a property fence, and a slope, rotating about 90 degrees relative to the impact direction (see figure 2).
The glider pilot transmitted a position report to Bielsko Radio: "I'm here, come to me," then radio contact ceased. Witnesses went to assist and notified emergency services. The pilot exited the glider unassisted. He did not sustain visible external injuries, but later hospital diagnosis revealed a spinal injury.
The tow aircraft, relieved of the glider's weight, circled and landed without incident on Runway 27. The towline end passed at very low altitude over the bicycle path and fence south of the airport.
Injuries
Emergency services responded. The pilot was transported by ambulance to a hospital with a suspected spinal injury. The table lists: fatal injuries: 0; serious injuries: 1; minor injuries: 0; none: 0.
Aircraft Damage
Inspection of the glider (see figure 4 for example) at the scene and after transport to the airport revealed:
- Structural damage to the left wing: the torsion box destroyed over about 1 m, approximately 1.5 m from the closing rib.
- Structural damage to the wing-to-fuselage attachment.
- The left wing flap/aileron was broken, cracked, and punctured in several places in its outer part.
- The attachable tip of the right wing was destroyed.
- Scratches (cracks) on the underside of the fuselage in the cockpit area.
- Deformed geometry of the main landing gear frame.
- The instrument panel cover torn off.
Additionally, normal wing removal was impossible: the main pin had bent under impact forces, jamming the connection. Manual removal of the left attachable wingtip required a lever.
Other Relevant Information
Crew Information: The 48-year-old male held a valid SPL issued in September 2021, a valid Class 2 and LAPL medical certificate with no restrictions. He reported total glider flight time of about 400 hours, including about 200 hours on the Ventus-C type with approximately 60 launches. He had owned the glider since 2024. The pilot's experience and aviation preparation remain under investigation.
Glider Information: The composite glider, model Ventus-C, manufactured by Schempp-Hirth Flugzeugbau GmbH, serial no. 586/1993, 15 m class, with flaps, was entered in the Polish aircraft register. It was maintained and managed by a CAO of the local aero club. It had a valid Certificate of Airworthiness with no restrictions and a valid Airworthiness Review Certificate. Airframe total time was 2934 hours. The last maintenance (including annual inspection, hook inspection, rudder cable check) was performed about two weeks before the event. Technical documentation was complete. The instrument panel included an LX8000 flight computer with an empty memory card slot. The device's internal memory is under investigation to recover flight and impact parameters.
Organisation Information: The flights were organized by Aeroklub Bielsko-Bialski. The preparation and organization of the launch were in accordance with applicable guidelines and good practices. Notably, the flight director (glider HT) ordered the glider pilot to release water ballast from the wings before takeoff. The tow aircraft WT-9 was owned by the aero club and used for limited glider towing. It had required airworthiness documents, permits, and current inspections. No technical issues were identified (no mechanical malfunction occurred).
Planned Actions by PKBWL
1. Analysis of conditions for the glider tow launch and performance of the tow plane–glider team with airbrakes extended. 2. Analysis of the forced landing conditions after release from the tow plane. 3. Analysis of glider damage and pilot survivability. 4. Analysis of the glider pilot's qualifications. 5. Analysis of weather factors for possible influence on the occurrence. 6. Identification of human factors that may have contributed to the occurrence. 7. Preparation of the Final Report draft. 8. Consultation of the Final Report draft. 9. Publication of the Final Report.