Accident Overview
On 12 October 2019, at 10:50 UTC, a SZD-42-2 Jantar 2B glider, registration SP-1492, crashed on a pasture near the village of Mnichov u Vrbna pod Pradědem in the Czech Republic. The glider was destroyed during the accident sequence. The pilot, the sole occupant, was found to have carbon monoxide in his blood, as revealed by toxicological examination.
Investigation Findings
The investigation was conducted by the Czech Accident Investigation Institute (ÚZPLN). The glider was originally manufactured by PDPS PZL Bielsko, Poland. The wreckage examination revealed that the glider had been subjected to an inflight breakup, with the wings separating from the fuselage before impact. The structural failure was consistent with overload beyond design limits.
Meteorological conditions at the time included the presence of lenticular clouds and mountain wave activity, which the pilot was likely attempting to utilize. The pilot had been flying at high altitude, and the investigation noted that the pilot was using the onboard oxygen system.
Toxicological analysis of the pilot's blood showed the presence of carbon monoxide, which can cause hypoxia by reducing the blood's oxygen-carrying capacity. The investigation concluded that the pilot likely became hypoxic and lost consciousness, leading to uncontrolled flight and structural overload.
Probable Cause
The accident was caused by the pilot losing consciousness due to hypoxia resulting from carbon monoxide intoxication. The source of the carbon monoxide was not determined, but the investigation considered possible sources such as a heater or exhaust leak. The loss of control led to the glider exceeding its design limits and breaking up in flight.
Safety Recommendations
The report included several safety recommendations: aircraft manufacturers should consider carbon monoxide detection systems; pilots flying at high altitude should be vigilant about hypoxia symptoms; and oxygen system maintenance should be emphasized.