What happened
On May 8, 2019, a Cirrus glider, registration OK-9254, crashed into a roundabout on road number 47 near Hranice na Moravě. The flight was the pilot's first since an eight-month winter break, intended to refresh flying skills during favorable spring weather. After being aero-towed from Hranice Airport (LKHN), the pilot spent approximately six minutes searching for thermal updrafts.
During the second circuit, the glider was flying at a very low altitude of approximately 100 meters and a low airspeed near the stall speed. While performing steep turns to center a thermal, the aircraft's air brakes deployed, causing the glider to enter a right-hand spin. The aircraft completed approximately two rotations before impacting the ground. The pilot sustained fatal injuries at the scene.
The investigation
The ÚZPLN investigation utilized GPS data from an onboard ERIXX logger, video footage captured by a witness from a moving vehicle, and eyewitness testimonies. The investigation also included a forensic medical examination of the pilot.
Investigators noted that the pilot had left the aircraft briefly before takeoff to retrieve a forgotten parachute from a hangar. The investigation also examined the aircraft's configuration, noting that the landing gear was extended during the flight. Medical findings revealed that the pilot had a large, non-malignant tumor on the pituitary gland, which could have caused symptoms such as headaches, nausea, or impaired vision, potentially affecting situational awareness.