What happened
On October 13, 2011, a SZD-9 “Bocian” glider departed from Oschatz Airfield (EDOQ) via aero-tow for a flight instructor rating examination. The flight involved a flight instructor candidate in the rear seat and an examiner in the front seat. After releasing from the tow cable at 500 meters, the candidate performed three full circles with banks of up to 60 degrees. The examiner then took control to demonstrate specific errors for the candidate to identify.
Following these maneuvers, the crew determined that while their altitude was lower than usual, it remained sufficient for a landing at the airfield. The candidate announced an approach from an unusual position via radio. However, the crew soon realized they had entered a sink zone and could no longer clear a wooded area located in front of the airfield. To avoid the trees, they executed a 70-degree left turn to attempt an emergency landing on a nearby field.
During the final approach, the glider collided with a hybrid poplar tree. The impact caused the aircraft to decelerate and rotate 180 degrees on its vertical axis. The nose of the fuselage struck the ground, and the aircraft came to rest on its back. The examiner, seated in the front, sustained serious injuries, while the instructor candidate sustained light injuries. The aircraft was destroyed.
The investigation
The BFU investigation examined the aircraft, the flight path via GPS data, and meteorological conditions. The investigation confirmed that the aircraft's center of gravity was within the permissible range and found no evidence of technical malfunctions or mechanical failure. Weather conditions at the time of the accident were reported as clear with visibility exceeding 10 km and light winds.