What happened
On the evening of the incident, a single-engine aircraft departed from Krępsko Aerodrome at 18:50 local time to perform agricultural spraying as part of a beetle control program. Approximately ten minutes into the flight, the crew identified a leak within the atomizer system, which necessitated an immediate return to the airfield. After the necessary repairs were performed, the aircraft departed for a second time roughly 20 minutes later.
During the subsequent climb, at an altitude of approximately 50 to 60 meters, the engine experienced significant surges and intense vibrations. As the crew attempted to manage the situation and return to the aerodrome, the aircraft struck a group of birch trees and crashed into a forested area. The impact was followed by a post-crash fire that resulted in the total destruction of the single-engine aircraft. Despite the severity of the impact and the resulting fire, both pilots escaped the wreckage uninjured.
Findings
- The aircraft experienced an engine surge and vibration shortly after rotation.
- A mechanical failure in the atomizer system had previously required a return to base.
- The crash occurred at a low altitude during the initial climb phase.