Incident Description
On May 22, 2022, at approximately 14:10 local time, a glider collision occurred at Szombathely Airport (LHSY), Hungary. The accident involved two gliders: a K7 "Rhönadler" (registration HA-7060) and an SZD-30C "Pirat" (registration HA-4396). Both were on private flights.
The pilot of the K7 had been performing duty tasks earlier in the day, including moving aircraft and preparing the launch area. The first instructional winch launch of the day occurred at 11:39, followed by ten more instructional flights, which ended around 13:49. Around the same time, the SZD-30C was towed to the start line.
The K7 pilot launched via winch, climbed to approximately 400 meters, and then decided to return to the airport after finding no lift between 300 and 350 meters. During the landing approach, the left wing of the K7 struck the right wing of the SZD-30C, which was stationary on the start line. The K7 sustained significant damage. No personal injuries were reported.
Investigation Findings
The investigation board determined the direct cause of the accident to be human factors related to the pilot. Contributing factors included the pilot's limited experience and organizational factors. The board did not issue any safety recommendations, as no circumstances were found that would warrant them.
Aircraft Information
- K7 Rhönadler (HA-7060): A glider involved in the accident, significantly damaged.
- SZD-30C Pirat (HA-4396): A stationary glider on the start line at the time of impact.
Meteorological Information
Weather data were obtained from the Hungarian Meteorological Service, but the report does not characterize the conditions.
Conclusion
The accident resulted from a collision during landing, attributed to human factors and organizational aspects. No fatalities or injuries occurred.