What happened
On July 5, 2003, an L-13 Blanik glider, registration LY-GKW, operated by Panevėžys Aeroklubas, was conducting a solo cross-country flight route between Panevėžys, Ramygala, Eriškiai, and Krekenava. While flying near Krekenavos, the pilot encountered deteriorating weather conditions, with cloud bases dropping to approximately 600 meters.
While attempting to maintain altitude, the pilot identified a large, uniform-colored area from the air and selected it as an emergency landing site. After performing a spiral maneuver to manage the descent, the pilot began the approach. However, at an altitude of approximately 150 meters, the pilot realized the chosen site was actually a field of tall rye crops. Unable to find an alternative landing spot due to the low cloud ceiling, the pilot proceeded with the landing. The glider crossed trees approximately 10-15 meters high and came to rest in the rye field. The pilot sustained no injuries.
The investigation
The investigation examined the flight path using GPS data from a handheld device, which confirmed that the flight was normal until the weather deteriorated. The analysis showed that the pilot had sufficient altitude to select a site and execute a safe approach pattern, but failed to correctly identify the surface composition of the field.
Investigators also reviewed the pilot's training records and the aircraft's maintenance status. While the pilot was properly certified, the investigation noted that the pilot had only recently begun solo cross-country flights and lacked sufficient experience in selecting landing sites from the air. Additionally, while the L-13 Blanik possessed a valid certificate of airworthiness, it was discovered that the validity period exceeded the required interval for a mandatory overhaul.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was pilot error resulting from a lack of experience in selecting a suitable landing site from the air.
- The pilot misjudged the landing surface, failing to recognize the tall crops until it was too late to divert.
- The aircraft sustained damage to the stabilizer, including torn mounting brackets and deformed metal skin, as well as damage to the control surfaces and landing gear due to contact with the dense vegetation during the rollout.
- The pilot's training records did not sufficiently demonstrate that they were fully prepared for solo cross-country operations regarding field selection skills.
- The aircraft's airworthiness certificate was incorrectly extended beyond its legal overhaul limit.