What happened
On July 10, 2021, at 15:15 local time, an L-13 Blaník glider, registration OK-7702, was performing a training circuit at Moravská Třebová airport. The flight was the pilot's first of the day and the final scheduled flight for this specific aircraft on that date.
As the pilot approached the runway, they intentionally chose a landing point further down runway 26L, closer to the hangars, to minimize the effort required to ground-handle the glider after the flight. During the landing roll, the right wing of the glider struck the rear wheel of a stationary Hercules 5 tractor, which was hitched to a winch. The impact caused the glider to rotate 180 degrees, resulting in extensive damage to the right wing and the fuselage skin. There were no injuries to the two crew members on board.
The investigation
The ÚZPLN investigation examined the pilot's flight history, the aircraft's maintenance status, and the airfield conditions. The investigation reviewed the pilot's recent flight hours, noting a low number of flight hours in the preceding 90 days. The investigation also confirmed that the weather conditions—clear to partly cloudy with light winds—were not a contributing factor to the accident. The aircraft was found to be airworthy and properly maintained.
Findings
- The pilot misjudged the lateral clearance between the wingtip and the known obstacle on the airfield.
- The pilot's decision to land further down the runway to shorten ground handling procedures contributed to the proximity to the stationary equipment.
- The pilot had a low flight frequency in the three months prior to the accident.
- The weather and the technical condition of the L-13 Blaník played no role in the occurrence.