Introduction
On 5 June 2016, at 12:00 UTC, a VSO-10 glider, registration OK-7522, operated by Aeroklub Hodkovice, crashed 215 meters northwest of the threshold of runway 19 at Hodkovice airfield (LKHD). The pilot, a 68-year-old woman with a valid glider license and 805 hours 56 minutes of total flight time, was seriously injured. The glider was damaged beyond economical repair.
Flight Sequence
The pilot departed LKHD at 10:17 via aerotow. After release, she conducted a thermal flight in the area, climbing to about 1500 m AGL. Noticing dark clouds forming east of the airfield, she decided to return to LKHD to avoid a field landing. She flew at increased speed toward the airfield. Entering light rain west of the airfield, she joined the circuit at about 400 m AGL and reported her position in heavy rain. During the turn to final for runway 19, she lost visual contact with the ground due to torrential rain. Strong wind pushed the glider left of the runway, beyond the western boundary of the field. She attempted to fly back toward the runway but could not make progress. Seeing a clearing in the forested slope used for paragliding, she tried to land on the steep slope. The glider struck the ground tail-first, then the fuselage hit the earth. The pilot sustained serious injuries and was transported to a hospital. A police breath test was negative.
Meteorological Conditions
According to the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute, a weak pressure field over Central Europe allowed strong thunderstorm development. Cumulonimbus clouds formed east of Hodkovice between 11:00 and 11:15 UTC, moving west. At the time of the accident (11:55-12:00 UTC), radar reflectivity was maximal, with possible hail and wind gusts exceeding 40 kt. Estimated surface wind at LKHD was 360°-090° at 4-8 kt, with gusts of 40-50 kt in the thunderstorm. Visibility was over 10 km, dropping to 1-2 km in heavy rain or hail. Cloud cover increased to 8/8 cumulonimbus with base at 1000-1500 ft AGL.
Aircraft Information
The VSO-10 is a single-seat, high-wing glider with a 15 m wingspan, mixed construction (laminated front fuselage, dural rear, wooden wings). The accident aircraft (OK-7522) was manufactured by Orličan in 1987, serial number 150178, with a total of 2364 hours 44 minutes. The last annual inspection was on 9 April 2016, with no defects noted. The glider was not equipped with a flight recorder.
Conclusion
The accident occurred when the glider encountered severe thunderstorm conditions, heavy rain, and strong gusty winds that caused the pilot to lose visual contact and forced the glider off the airfield. No official probable cause is stated in the report.