What happened
On August 1, 2008, a SZD-51-1 Junior glider, registration D-2802, operated by a German aero club, was involved in an accident near the village of Strážné, Czech Republic. The flight began at 09:04 UTC with a winch launch from Vrchlabí airport (LKVR) using a Z-226 tow plane.
After releasing from the tow plane at approximately 600 meters altitude, the pilot flew northwest over the Krkonoše mountain range. Flight data from an onboard logger indicated that approximately 15 minutes before the accident, the glider was flying at roughly 1,000 meters above sea level. During a 180-degree turn back toward Strážné, the aircraft experienced a loss of altitude of approximately 150 to 200 meters.
Witnesses observed the glider striking a group of trees, approximately 15 meters tall, west of Strážné. The aircraft became wedged in the treetops for about 30 minutes. While emergency services were being dispatched, the glider dislodged from the branches and fell to the ground. The impact caused one injury (a broken leg and shoulder contusion to the pilot) and the total destruction of the aircraft.
The investigation
The ÚZPLN investigation examined the wreckage, flight data, and meteorological conditions. The investigation established that the aircraft was within its maximum takeoff weight and had a valid certificate of airworthiness. The meteorological conditions at the time of the accident were favorable, with visibility exceeding 10 km and light winds.
Analysis of the onboard Logger-LX20 GPS revealed that the pilot's altitude during the final phase of flight was insufficient to clear the local terrain, specifically the peaks of Strážná Hůra and Jankův kopec, on a direct path back to Vrchlabí. The investigation also noted that the airbrakes were extended, suggesting the pilot was attempting an out-of-field landing.
Findings
- The pilot's failure to manage the techniques of landing in terrain led to the collision with the treetops.
- The pilot underestimated the specific challenges of unpowered flight in mountainous terrain.
- The aircraft's altitude dropped significantly during the turn, making a return to the home aerodrome impossible due to the surrounding mountain peaks.