What happened
Following the aborting of a cross-country flight, the pilot of a glider attempted to divert to the home base at Uppsala/Sundbro airfield. During this maneuver, the aircraft's altitude decreased to a level that necessitated an immediate out-landing in a nearby field. The pilot initiated a 360-degree landing circuit at approximately 125 meters above ground level to select a suitable touchdown point.
As the pilot proceeded with the landing approach, the glider struck a bridge located at the far end of the field. The impact resulted in serious injuries to the pilot, specifically including fractures to the pelvis and one femur.
The investigation
SHK investigators analyzed data retrieved from the aircraft's onboard GPS logger to reconstruct the flight path and environmental conditions. The data confirmed that the landing occurred during a 15 km/h tailwind. The investigation focused on the timing of the pilot's decision-making and the execution of the landing circuit.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the late commencement of the out-landing procedure.
- Because the diversion was initiated so late, the pilot was unable to execute the landing circuit with the necessary precision to avoid obstacles in the field.