SZD-9 Bocian spin unrecovered; instructor's in-flight cardiac event suspected
Both occupants of an SZD-9 Bocian — an instructor (~1,323 h) and a PPL-C student on the front tandem seat — were fatally injured when the glider entered an unrecovered spin from 250-300 m AGL and impacted near vertically; destroyed. Aerotow to ~450 m and post-release left circles were unremarkable; the glider then tracked south-east, repeatedly pitching to high alpha and recovering — possibly stall-recognition exercises or early signs of impairment. Autopsy of the instructor showed a fresh left-ventricle infarct on advanced coronary disease that alone could have caused sudden death and may have blocked the controls. No technical faults.
- Aerotow + post-release left circles: On a tandem training flight, the glider released from tow within the left pattern, flew full left circles, then tracked southeast toward the old runway.
- Tandem seating limits intervention: Student in front, instructor in rear; the front seat could not see or reach the instructor; radio worked but the instructor did not reply to any radio calls during the flight.
- Repeated high-alpha pitching on SE leg: Witnesses saw the glider repeatedly pitched to high angle of attack and recovered at 250-300 m; such exercises are unusual at that height and could reflect the instructor becoming impaired.
- Spin entry from 250-300 m AGL: From 250-300 m the glider entered a stationary right-hand spin (2-3 rotations); no recovery input observed though height theoretically allowed recovery and both pilots were trained for it.
- Near-vertical impact: Ground impact at 60-70°, ~400 m past the start point.
- Both fatal; cardiac event suspected: Both occupants were fatally injured and the airframe destroyed. The instructor's autopsy found a fresh left-ventricle infarct on advanced coronary disease, able alone to cause sudden death.