What happened
On March 25, 2012, at approximately 13:15 UTC, a Glaser-Dirks DG 800 LA motor glider, registration D-KLHZ, departed from the Casarão aerodrome in Águeda, Portugal, for a local recreational flight. The pilot utilized the aircraft's retractable engine to self-launch. After climbing to a target altitude of 1,200 meters and performing several circuits above the airfield, the aircraft flew away from the aerodrome, at which point ground observers lost visual contact.
At 13:45 UTC, following an unsuccessful attempt to establish radio contact, a nearby aircraft engaged in a parachute-jumping mission was requested to locate the glider. The second aircraft discovered the D-KLHZ had crashed near the village of Alvarim, approximately 2 km southeast of the airfield. The pilot sustained one fatality at the scene, and the aircraft suffered substantial damage.
The investigation
The GPIAA investigation focused on determining the sequence of events leading to the impact. Investigators examined the flight path, the aircraft's configuration, and the meteorological conditions. The investigation noted that the aircraft appeared to be in a state of rotation (spin) prior to impact. While the possibility of a loose object in the cockpit obstructing the flight controls could not be ruled out, the investigation found no discrepancies in the flight controls themselves. The steep nose-down attitude of the aircraft during the spin suggested that the pilot may have been holding the controls in an inadequate position, possibly as an involuntary reaction to the emergency.
Findings
- The aircraft entered an inadvertent spin at an altitude of approximately 100 meters above ground level.
- The low altitude likely prevented the pilot from having sufficient time or opportunity to execute the necessary recovery maneuvers.
- The pilot's control inputs may have been improper due to the extreme nature of the maneuver or an instinctive reaction to the loss of control.
- The investigation was limited by the lack of survivors and the presence of only one eyewitness.
Safety action
- The GPIAA issued a safety recommendation to the Portuguese Aeronautical Federation (FPA) to work with accredited gliding clubs to emphasize the dangers of mountain flying and ensure pilots are trained to avoid being trapped in unforeseen aerodynamic situations.