What happened
On 11 August 2019, a Sportine Aviacija LAK 17B FES glider, registration D-KSEO, was involved in an accident near the Garray aerodrome in Soria, Spain. The flight, which began as a cross-country mission to Fuentemilanos, was modified after the pilot determined that insufficient thermal activity would prevent reaching the intended destination.
During the return to Garray, the pilot found himself unable to reach the runway and opted for an emergency landing in a nearby grain field, approximately 1,300 meters east of runway 27. As the aircraft approached the field, the pilot's view of potential hazards was obscured by a line of trees. While attempting to maneuver under the trees, the left wing of the glider struck a medium-voltage power line. The impact caused a short circuit and forced the aircraft to pivot and slide across the ground. The pilot was unharmed and able to exit the aircraft unassisted, though the aircraft sustained significant damage to its wings, fuselage, and landing gear.
The investigation
Investigators examined the aircraft's GPS flight data, which provided a detailed record of the flight path up until approximately one minute before the impact. The analysis revealed that the pilot had been flying in challenging meteorological conditions with weak thermal activity.
Technical examination of the wreckage confirmed that the left wing had been lacerated and burnt by an electric arc, consistent with contact with the 13.2 kV power lines. The investigation also looked into the pilot's decision-making regarding the use of the aircraft's electric sustainer motor. While the motor could have potentially assisted the flight, the pilot chose not to engage it during the final moments to avoid the complexity of following a checklist during a critical phase of flight. Furthermore, the investigation noted that the pilot's view of the power lines was blocked by trees located at the edge of the landing site.
Findings
- The pilot had limited experience operating out of the Garray aerodrome, having performed only one previous takeoff from that location.
- Meteorological conditions, specifically a westerly wind, contributed to the aircraft being carried away from the intended approach path.
- Poor management of the approach to the landing runway led the pilot to attempt an emergency landing in a location where obstacles were not visible.
- The choice of an off-field landing site was problematic because the line of trees obscured the presence of the medium-voltage cables.