Orlík II hits a drainage ditch on the ground roll of a ski-run outlanding

On a cross-country flight in the Krkonoše, the pilot of an Orličan VT-116 Orlík II was unhurt, but the glider was substantially damaged when its wheel hit a drainage ditch on the outlanding roll. Over a valley the glider sank at 4 m/s; the pilot lost the glide back to Vrchlabí and, with few fields around, chose a steep ski run at Svatý Petr familiar to him from sport. About 20 m after a smooth uphill touchdown the wheel crossed the ditch and the fuselage cracked behind the cockpit. The report found the pilot lacked mountain experience and had underestimated the wind; the ditch could not be avoided.

1. 245 km cross-country task: The pilot was aerotowed from Velké Poříčí at 09:44 for a 245 km cross-country task and released after about 7 minutes at about 700 m above the airfield.
2. Left shared thermal at Vrchlabí: Unable to stay with about ten performance gliders in a thermal over Vrchlabí airfield, the pilot flew on over the Krkonoše towards cumulus, with Vrchlabí behind as the escape.
3. Into lee-side sink over a valley: Having misjudged the wind direction, the pilot flew out over a valley into strong sink on the lee side of the hills; the glider sank at 4 m/s and the glide back to Vrchlabí was lost.
4. Steep ski run chosen: In terrain with few meadows or fields, the pilot chose the lower part of the steep black ski run at Svatý Petr, an area familiar to him from sport.
5. Smooth uphill touchdown: After the fourth turn the pilot flew final on about 170° at 105–110 km/h, flared and touched down smoothly on the grass, rolling uphill into wind.
6. Ditch struck, fuselage cracked: About 20 m after touchdown the main wheel struck a drainage ditch about 40 cm deep across the run; the fuselage cracked behind the cockpit. The glider stopped about 15 m on; the pilot was unhurt.