Glider L 13A BLANÍK OK-2728 accident in a meadow between Mýto and Kařez

Overview and flight details On 16 August 2018, the Czech Institute for the Investigation of Causes of Aviation Accidents (ÚZPLN) received notification of an accident involving a glider L 13A BLANÍK, registration OK-2728, in a meadow between the municipalities of Mýto and Kařez. The aircraft was operated by a legal entity and manufactured by LET, n. p. Kunovice. The accident occurred at 14:19 UTC (16:19 CEST). The pilot, a member of Aeroklub Kladno, was participating in a 14-day gliding course at Hořovice airfield. At 12:32 UTC, the glider was towed into the air for a local thermal flight. After release, the pilot flew westward over Rokycany and Letkov. At 2,200 m AMSL, the pilot decided to return to Hořovice (LKHV). During the return, thermal conditions were less favorable, and the pilot elected to land in a suitable field. ## Approach and impact The pilot approached the selected meadow from the northwest and began a right-hand visual turn. After approximately 180 degrees at 100 m AGL, the turn was interrupted and the approach continued along a service road. The pilot later stated that increased sink rate led to an earlier final approach, resulting in a landing with a tailwind. After touchdown approximately 150 m from the intended stopping point, the glider continued rolling. Grass tracks indicated the aircraft moved slightly to the right of the original landing direction. After crossing the service road, the left wing struck a steel tube supporting a traffic sign prohibiting motor vehicles and motorcycles. The glider then struck a road embankment with its nose and came to rest with its fuselage on the concrete edge of a road culvert. ## Damage and injuries The pilot was not injured. The glider was seriously damaged. The impact bent the steel tube of the traffic sign, causing third-party property damage estimated at approximately 1,000 CZK. ## Aircraft and pilot information The L 13A BLANÍK is a two-seat, all-metal, cantilevered glider with a single-axle landing gear. It was manufactured in 1982, serial number 827420, with a total time of 4,025 hours and 18,507 flights. The pilot was 44 years old and held a valid Class 2 medical certificate, glider pilot qualification, and limited radiotelephony license. Since 2013, the pilot had logged 69 hours 45 minutes on the L 13, including the accident flight. ## Meteorological conditions At the time of the accident, weather in the area was mostly clear with some cumulus clouds above 5,000 ft AGL. Surface winds were variable to southeast at 2–3 kt, with gusts up to 5–6 kt. No hazardous meteorological phenomena were present.