What happened
On August 16, 2024, at approximately 17:22 UTC, an ultralight aircraft, registration OK-OZC09, crashed southwest of the village of Sazomín in the Czech Republic. The flight originated from the Sazomín airfield (LKSAZO).
According to witnesses, the pilot had been performing maintenance and engine tests on the aircraft earlier that day. While the pilot did not initially intend to fly, the aircraft unexpectedly became airborne during a series of engine and taxi tests on runway 31. The flight proceeded at full power, maintaining a low altitude of approximately 50 to 100 meters.
During the flight sequence, the aircraft entered a period of instability regarding its heading, altitude, and airspeed. The aircraft transitioned into a steep descending spiral, striking the treetops before impacting the ground. The pilot sustained fatal injuries due to multiple blunt force traumas caused by the impact. The aircraft was destroyed in the accident.
The investigation
The ÚZPLN investigation examined witness testimonies, aircraft wreckage, and medical-legal findings. The investigation established that the pilot had completed training on a different type of ultralight aircraft with different handling characteristics. Furthermore, the pilot had not flown this specific model since receiving his license, making this his first flight on this particular aircraft.
Medical examinations revealed that the pilot's blood contained a concentration of 62.9 ng/ml of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). This level significantly exceeded the legal limit of 2 ng/ml established for operating motor vehicles and aircraft, meaning the pilot had lost his medical fitness to fly.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the pilot's decision to fly while under the influence of prohibited substances, which rendered him medically unfit and impaired his ability to safely operate the aircraft.
- The pilot lacked experience with the specific aircraft model, having trained on a different type of ultralight.
- The pilot had a significant period of inactivity between his training and the date of the accident.
- The aircraft was structurally sound prior to the impact, and no mechanical failures were identified as contributing to the loss of control.
- Meteorological conditions at the time of the accident were suitable for ultralight flight.