What happened
On July 7, 2013, a pilot operating a Rolladen-Schneider LS1-c, registration D-7106, was performing a flight along a competitive course near the airfield in Dvořákov (LKVP). During the flight, the pilot encountered thermal conditions near the third turning point at Lanškroun that were unsuitable for continuing the planned route. Consequently, the pilot decided to perform a forced landing in a field near the village of Ostrov u Lanškrouna.
The pilot selected a suitable landing area and executed a standard approach, maintaining speeds between 100 and 110 km/h and utilizing spoilers to manage the descent. The landing was performed on a slightly sloping surface covered in low-growing corn. Upon touchdown, the glider experienced a sudden deceleration, which caused the aircraft to rotate approximately 130 degrees around its vertical axis. During this uncontrolled movement, the tail section of the aircraft struck the ground and broke, and the landing gear wheel was torn from the airframe as the glider slid across the terrain.
The investigation
The ÚZPLN investigation examined the aircraft's structural damage, the pilot's experience, and the meteorological conditions at the time of the accident. The investigation confirmed that the pilot was fully qualified, medically fit, and had performed the landing maneuvers correctly according to standard procedures. The investigation also verified that the aircraft was airworthy and that all maintenance requirements had been met prior to the flight. The investigators analyzed the terrain, noting that while the pilot had selected an appropriate area, the specific surface quality—consisting of soft soil and uneven ground—could not be fully assessed from the air.
Findings
- The pilot correctly identified the need for a landing due to unfavorable thermal conditions.
- The landing surface, while appearing suitable from altitude, consisted of soft soil and uneven terrain that caused the sudden deceleration.
- The sudden braking and subsequent rotation of the aircraft led to the structural failure of the rear fuselage and the loss of the landing gear.
- The pilot was unable to prevent the uncontrolled movement of the aircraft once the deceleration occurred.
- Meteorological conditions at the time of the landing had no impact on the occurrence of the accident.