What happened
On May 22, 1993, at approximately 13:40, a glider with registration LY-AB departed from the Vilnius Aeroclub for a flight. The aircraft was carrying a pilot and a passenger in a second cockpit. During the flight, the pilot maintained radio contact with the flight instructor without interruption.
While approaching the aerodrome, the flight instructor warned the pilot that he was flying at too low an altitude and advised that, if in doubt, he should land in a nearby field. The pilot indicated his intention to increase altitude and land at the aerodrome; however, while flying at a low altitude, the aircraft struck the tops of some trees. The impact resulted in the deformation of both wings, broken ailerons, damaged control elevators, and a deformed front landing gear.
The investigation
A commission composed of members from the Vilnius Aeroclub board and an audit commission examined the aircraft and conducted interviews with the pilot and the flight instructor. The commission also reviewed the cockpit radio recordings.
Findings
The investigation established that the glider was in a technically sound condition and all necessary documentation was properly maintained. The flight organization was found to be operating in compliance with required instructions.
The accident was caused by the pilot's failure to account for meteorological conditions, specifically strong wind, and a failure to adjust the approach to accommodate the aerodrome conditions.