What happened
On June 20, 2017, at approximately 15:28 UTC, a Standard Cirrus B glider, registration OK-2287, crashed approximately 1,200 meters before the threshold of runway 01 at Hodkovice nad Mohelkou Airport (LKHD).
The pilot had been flying in thermal conditions earlier in the day, eventually transitioning to a cross-country flight through mountainous terrain. During the approach to LKHD, the pilot flew against a light north-to-northwesterly wind. As the aircraft approached the airfield, the terrain rose steadily toward the airport.
During the final stages of the approach, the pilot performed a series of turns. While flying over a field near the village of Vrchovina at an altitude of approximately 10 meters, the right wingtip of the glider caught on tall crops. This contact caused the aircraft to enter an uncontrolled right-hand rotation, leading to a heavy impact with the ground. The impact destroyed the aircraft.
The investigation
The ÚZPLN investigation utilized flight tracker data and the pilot's testimony to reconstruct the flight path. The investigation established that the pilot was flying in a continuous descent from the point where the approach began, with the exception of a brief period of altitude gain during two 360-degree turns north of Mnichovo Hradiště (LKMH).
The investigation examined the terrain, noting that the elevation increases significantly between LKMH and LKHD. The investigators determined that the pilot's altitude had decreased to a level that made a successful landing at the actual airfield impossible. The flight path indicated an attempt to select an alternative landing site in the field near Vrchology, but the selection of this site was too late and the subsequent low-altitude maneuvers were unsuccessful.
Findings
- The pilot was qualified and the aircraft was airworthy.
- Meteorological conditions were suitable for the intended flight.
- The pilot failed to realize the adverse effect of the wind during the approach to landing.
- The pilot did not select a suitable alternative landing area in a timely manner.
- All damage to the aircraft was caused by the impact with the ground.