What happened
On June 10, 1998, an L-13 Blanik glider, registration LY-GIC, was involved in an accident near the Kartena aerodrome. The aircraft, operated by the Klaipėda Gliding Club, was part of a group of four gliders flying that day. During the flight, developing storm clouds with heavy rain and thunderstorms created hazardous meteorological conditions.
Despite the deteriorating weather, the pilot decided to fly through the storm toward the Kartena aerodrome, violating safety requirements. Upon entering the heavy rain, the pilot realized that continuing to the aerodrome was impossible and executed a 170-degree turn to land at a nearby field. During the descent, heavy rain covered the exterior of the windscreen, and condensation formed on the interior, severely restricting visibility.
The pilot approached the landing site at an estimated speed of 90 km/h, though the actual ground speed was higher due to a strong headwind. The aircraft struck the ground in a nose-down attitude. Due to inertia, the glider bounced, performed a 180-degree turn, and struck the ground again with the tail section before sliding backward along the edge of a field. The impact caused extensive damage to the nose, fuselage, and tail surfaces.
The investigation
The investigation established that the pilot failed to report the accident to the flight leader immediately. Furthermore, the pilot, who also served as the club's engineer, moved the aircraft from the crash site two days later in an attempt to conceal the occurrence.
Technical inspections of the club's maintenance practices revealed several deficiencies, including a lack of technical descriptions and maintenance instructions for the L-13 Blanik, as well as incomplete flight log entries regarding recent operations.