What happened
On June 8, 2026, training flights were conducted using a winch tow system at aerodrome EPNT. During the launch of a SZD-50-3 Puchacz glider with an instructor on board, a mechanical issue occurred involving the tow lines. As the towing vehicle accelerated to tension the primary line, it inadvertently pulled a second line that had been improperly laid out and was resting on top of the first. This caused the two lines to become entangled.
The flight director, who was not directly observing the tensioning process, did not issue an abort command. However, another glider pilot on the ground monitored the situation via radio and instructed the winch operator to stop the tow. By the time the winch halted, the glider had already lifted off the ground. The crew successfully detached the tangled line from the aircraft. As the line wrapped around the wing, the glider was forced to land immediately in a straight-in approach at very low speed. No damage was sustained by the aircraft or equipment.
The investigation
The Polish State Commission for Aviation Accident Investigation (PKBWL) reviewed the findings of the preliminary investigation and deemed them sufficient to close the case. The commission focused on the sequence of events leading to the line entanglement and the response of the ground personnel. It was established that the primary failure occurred during the preparation phase, specifically in how the tow lines were deployed from the towing vehicle.
Findings
The investigation identified three key factors contributing to the incident:
- Improper deployment of tow lines: The towing vehicle followed a curved path while laying out the lines, causing them to overlap and tangle.
- Lack of direct supervision: The instructor responsible for the launch did not observe the tensioning process from the ground, missing the opportunity to intervene before takeoff.
- Lightweight line tail: The end of the tow line was too light to drop quickly to the ground after detachment, contributing to it wrapping around the wing during the emergency landing.