What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2016-06-11 involved a Z 37A, registration OK-YJF, at LKMB, CZ.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The incident was caused by the pilot's failure to accurately account for the length of the trailing tow cables during the landing approach, leading to the cable dragging at a low altitude across a public roadway.

Towing cable causes cyclist injury during airshow approach

A trailing tow cable from a Z-37A aircraft struck a cyclist near Mladá Boleslav, causing a fall during a landing approach.

What happened

On June 11, 2016, during the "Historical Airshow 2016" at LKMB (Mladá Boleslav), a Z-37A-2 aircraft, registration OK-YJF, was performing a landing approach following a multi-glider tow maneuver. The aircraft had just completed towing a group of three gliders and still had three textile tow cables suspended from its towing equipment.

As the pilot executed the approach to runway 23 using full flaps, the trailing end of the longest cable—which measured 98 meters in length—dragged along the ground at an altitude of approximately 1 meter. The cable passed through a public intersection (Regnerova and Pražská streets) located about 325 meters northwest of the runway threshold. At this location, the cable caught the front wheel of a passing bicycle, causing the 80-year-old cyclist to fall. The cyclist sustained minor injuries and was transported to a hospital by emergency medical services. The aircraft landed safely on the runway without damage.

The investigation

The ÚZPLN investigation examined the flight sequence, the pilot's qualifications, and the physical dimensions of the towing equipment. The investigation established that the pilot was fully qualified and experienced in both the aircraft type and multi-glider towing. The aircraft was also found to be airworthy with valid inspections.

Investigators analyzed the flight path and the positioning of the cables. It was determined that while the pilot had coordinated the tow with the glider pilots, he was unaware of the exact length of the longest cable being used. The investigation also reviewed the regulatory requirements regarding the minimum height for trailing cables over obstacles and persons outside the airfield perimeter.

Findings

The pilot performed the landing approach with the cables still attached to the aircraft.
The pilot was unaware of the actual length of the longest tow cable (98 meters).
Due to the aircraft's flight trajectory and the cable's slack, the end of the cable descended below the regulatory minimum height of 10 meters above persons and obstacles outside the airfield.
The primary cause was an incorrect landing calculation resulting from the pilot's lack of knowledge regarding the actual length of the trailing tow cable.