What happened
On July 12, 2020, a pilot was conducting a thermal soaring flight near Kroměříž Airport (LKKM). After approximately 20 minutes of flight, the pilot was unable to locate sufficient thermals and decided to return to the airfield.
During the approach for runway 02, the pilot attempted to descend between the third and fourth turns of the circuit. In an effort to reduce altitude, the pilot moved the control lever, intending to deploy the aerodynamic air brakes. However, the pilot inadvertently retracted the landing gear instead. This error went unnoticed by the pilot during the approach. As a result, the ASW-15B approached the runway at an excessive speed of approximately 150 km/h.
Upon touchdown on runway 02, the aircraft bounced due to the high velocity. Attempting to manage the situation, the pilot performed a low-altitude turn to land on runway 20. Because the air brakes remained retracted and the landing gear was still up, the aircraft maintained a high speed and overshot the runway. With the runway end blocked by a stream bank, the pilot was forced to perform an emergency landing in a cornfield located slightly to the left of the runway centerline. The aircraft came to an immediate stop upon contact with the crops.
The investigation
The ÚZPLN investigation examined the pilot's testimony, photographs of the wreckage, and police records. The investigation focused on the cockpit configuration, specifically the placement of the landing gear and air brake levers, which are located vertically adjacent to each other on the left side of the cockpit. The investigation also reviewed the aircraft's maintenance history, which showed the glider had undergone its annual inspection in June 2020 with no defects noted. Meteorological data confirmed that weather conditions were suitable for flight and did not contribute to the event.
Findings
- The pilot experienced severe spinal injuries, specifically a compressive unstable fracture of the L1 vertebra and a fracture of the Th12 spinous process, requiring surgery.
- The aircraft sustained significant damage, including damage to the vertical stabilizer, the glider foot, the floating elevator, and a dented wing surface.
- The primary cause of the accident was the pilot's confusion between the air brake lever and the landing gear lever.
- The pilot failed to recognize the error during the approach, leading to an uncontrolled high-speed landing attempt and the subsequent forced landing in terrain.