What happened
On July 3, 2003, an L-13 Blanik glider, registration LY-GJK, operated by Alytus Aeroclub, was involved in an accident near Leliūtan village, approximately 7 km east of Alytus Aerodrome. The flight was part of a route from Alytus to Panevėžys for senior glider competitions.
After taking off via a Wilga-35A tug aircraft, the pilot released from the tow at 500 meters altitude near the aerodrome. Seeking thermal currents that failed to materialize, the pilot descended toward the northeast. Upon reaching an altitude of approximately 200 meters, the pilot realized returning to the aerodrome against the wind was not feasible and began searching for an alternative landing site.
The chosen landing site was a heavily undulating field near Leliūnai. As the pilot attempted a fourth left-hand turn at an altitude of approximately 150 meters, the aircraft encountered strong downward air currents (6 m/s). This caused a sudden increase in speed followed by a loss of airspeed below critical levels during the turn. The glider entered a spin and struck the ground, primarily on its left wing. The impact resulted in the total destruction of the L-13 Blanik and caused serious injuries to the pilot, specifically involving head trauma and both legs.
The investigation
The investigation examined the flight path, meteorological conditions, aircraft maintenance records, and pilot qualifications. Investigators analyzed the impact patterns on the ground, which showed a sequence of impacts starting with the left wing, followed by the forward fuselage, and finally the right wing.
Review of the aircraft's maintenance history revealed that while it had a valid certificate of airworthiness, certain periodic maintenance tasks (the 50-hour inspections) had not been completed according to the required schedule. The investigation also noted that while the pilot was properly certified and experienced, her flight time within the preceding 90 days was relatively low.