What happened
On May 28, 2000, a Janus CT motor glider, registration OH-853, was involved in an accident during a training flight at Hyvinkää Airport. The flight began as a towed launch with a Ralley 235 aircraft. After reaching an altitude of approximately 200 meters, the passenger, who was experiencing significant anxiety, requested an immediate return to the ground. The pilot disconnected from the towplane and began a landing approach on the downwind leg of runway 22.
During the approach, the aircraft encountered a descending air current. While the pilot was focused on comforting the passenger and providing instructions, the glider lost altitude. Realizing the aircraft was too low to reach the runway, the pilot attempted to trade altitude for airspeed to escape the descending air current and reach a section of the runway with a weaker headwind. However, this maneuver resulted in a loss of energy, and the aircraft's speed dropped to approximately 130 km/h.
As the glider flew over a nearby micro-highway, it struck a loudspeaker cable and a supporting steel wire at an altitude of approximately 6 meters. To avoid a potential impact with an embankment at the end of the runway, the pilot steered the aircraft toward a gap in the trees. The right wing struck birch trees, causing the aircraft to spin 180 degrees before crashing onto the ground with severe damage to the wing and fuselage. The passenger sustained serious injuries, including a fractured vertebra, while the pilot remained uninjured.
The investigation
The Finnish Safety Investigation Authority (OTKES) examined the flight path, radio communications, and the aircraft's mechanical condition. The investigation included an analysis of the pilot's maneuvers, the impact of the terrain, and the use of the altimeter during the approach. Investigators also reviewed video footage of the flight and interviewed the pilot and the towplane operator.
Findings
- The pilot's attention was focused on the passenger for too long, preventing timely reaction to the descending air current.
- The pilot's decision to trade altitude for speed, influenced by competition-style flying experience, resulted in insufficient energy to maintain a safe glide path.
- The aircraft was flying at the extreme limits of its performance capabilities due to the low altitude and the terrain obstacles.
- **The pilot's distraction by the passenger'made the primary cause of the accident.