What happened
On August 16, 2018, a pilot was conducting a local thermal flight near Hořovice, Czech Republic. After approximately one hour of flight, the pilot decided to terminate the flight and return to the airfield. Due to deteriorating thermal conditions and a loss of altitude, the pilot elected to perform a field landing on a meadow located between the villages of Mýto and Kařež.
During the approach, the pilot performed a visual maneuver but encountered a tailwind component. The glider touched down approximately 150 meters before the end of the available landing area. The aircraft continued to roll, drifting slightly to the right of the original landing path. During the rollout, the left wing of the L 13A Blanik, registration OK-2728, struck a steel post of a traffic sign (prohibiting entry for motor vehicles). The momentum of the aircraft then caused the nose to impact a roadside embankment, where the glider finally came to a stop.
The investigation
The ÚZPLN investigation examined the pilot's actions, the aircraft's condition, and the meteorological environment. The pilot, who had approximately 70 hours of total time on the L 13A Blanik, was found to be fully qualified and medically fit. The aircraft was also found to be airworthy and properly maintained.
Meteorological data indicated a mostly clear sky with light, variable winds. The investigation focused on the landing phase, specifically the pilot's management of the landing roll and the impact with the roadside obstacle. The investigation also reviewed the technical damage to the airframe, which included deformations to the fuselage, wings, and tail surfaces caused by the impact.