What happened
On July 5, 2010, during the fifth flight of a gliding competition, a VSO-10 glider, registration OM-8509, performed an unplanned landing on a field in Tužina. The pilot had decided to land at this specific agricultural area due to deteriorating thermal conditions.
To ensure the safety of a group of model aircraft hobbyists parked on the western side of the field, the pilot chose to land facing south, utilizing a headwind. While the initial touchdown occurred just beyond the northern threshold, an unexpected change in wind direction—shifting from the southwest to the northeast—combined with the slope of the terrain, caused the landing roll to extend significantly. As the aircraft decelerated, the nose wheel lifted, and the glider traveled past the southern threshold into an area characterized by uneven terrain. The resulting impact with a ground wave caused structural damage to the fuselage.
The investigation
The investigation examined the circumstances surrounding the landing, including the meteorological conditions, the pilot's decision-making process regarding the landing site, and the physical state of the aircraft following the event. The board reviewed the terrain characteristics at the Tužina field and analyzed how the sudden shift in wind direction influenced the aircraft's ground track.
Findings
- The pilot was uninjured during the incident.
- The VSO-10 sustained damage including a separation of the lower fuselage joint (approximately 20-30 cm) and the detachment of the cockpit floor from the side laminate.
- The aircraft was rendered unairworthy following the event.
- A sudden change in wind direction from the southwest to the northeast, paired with the slope of the landing area, led to an uncontrolled landing roll.
- The pilot failed to properly manage the landing technique under changing environmental conditions.