What happened
On August 31, 2020, a Cessna C152, registration OK-GED, was conducting a training flight focused on practicing forced landings in both aerodromes and terrain. The flight, operated by a flight school, began with several successful circuits at Brno/Tuřany Airport (LKTB) before proceeding to the area north of Brno.
During the flight, the instructor and student pilot identified a suitable field for an emergency landing maneuver near the village of Bořitov. As the aircraft performed a 180-degree turn to align with the landing site, the aircraft's nose gear struck a 110 kV high-voltage power line at an altitude of approximately 30 meters. The impact severed the wire and caused the aircraft to enter a steep dive, ultimately crashing into a harvested field. The aircraft overturned on its back upon impact. Both the instructor and the student sustained serious injuries and were transported to hospitals.
The investigation
The ÚZPLN investigation utilized several sources, including the operator's flight data recorder, testimonies from both the instructor and the student, aircraft documentation, and amateur video footage captured from a passing vehicle on the nearby I/43 road. The investigation examined the technical condition of the Cessna C152, the meteorological conditions at the time, and the flight profiles of the crew.
Findings
- The instructor and student both failed to detect the high-voltage wires while selecting the landing site and executing the approach.
- The aircraft was in a functional technical condition, and the weather conditions were suitable for the intended flight activities.
- The student pilot had limited experience in practical flight training.
- The impact with the wires caused damage to two high-voltage utility poles and resulted in small localized fires on the field, which were extinguished by emergency services.
Safety action
- A recommendation was made to conduct a theoretical and practical re-examination of the instructor by an authorized examiner.