Collision between a motor glider and a glider at Greiz-Obergrochlitz (D-3805 / D-KAGJ)

Incident Overview and Location On 6 September 2020, a collision occurred between a motor glider and a glider near the Sonderlandeplatz Greiz-Obergrochlitz (EDOT), located approximately 2 km southwest of Greiz and 70 km southwest of Leipzig. The airfield sits at 1,280 ft AMSL and features a 752 m by 18 m asphalt runway oriented 050/230 degrees. The incident resulted in minor damage to both aircraft, with no injuries reported. ## Aircraft and Personnel The motor glider was a Scheibe SF 25 C, manufactured in 2002 with serial number 44587, powered by a Rotax-912-S2 engine. It was registered in Germany and held by an air sports club, with a total operating time of 3,473 hours. The glider was a PZL-Bielsko SZD-50-3 Puchacz, built in 1983 with serial number B-1089, also registered in Germany and operated by an air sports club. It had a total flight time of 3,034 hours. The SF 25 C was piloted by a 66-year-old holder of a LAPL (A) license with SEP land and TMG ratings, including tow privileges. The SZD-50-3 was piloted by a 53-year-old holder of a PPL (C) glider license and a PPL (A) airplane license. A 67-year-old flight instructor monitored the tow operations from the ground. ## Sequence of Events At 15:33 local time, the SF 25 C towed the SZD-50-3 from runway 05. The glider was released at approximately 450 m AGL in the area of the motor and ultralight traffic pattern. While the glider circled north of the airfield to lose altitude, the motor glider headed southeast into a descent to drop the tow rope over runway 23. Air traffic control advised the motor glider pilot to delay his approach due to another aircraft on final for runway 05. The pilot dropped the rope as planned and climbed west, deviating approximately 20 degrees right of the runway 23 departure line for noise abatement. The motor glider pilot reported feeling a jolt 10 to 15 seconds after ending the climb, initially attributing it to engine imbalance or a bird strike. The glider pilot saw the motor glider approaching from the rear left at a 45-degree angle while turning onto the crosswind approach to runway 05. He pulled up in a 90-degree right turn, after which the collision occurred. Both pilots reported being blinded by the sun. ## Damage and Aftermath The collision took place approximately 1,200 m west of the airfield within the motor traffic pattern. The SF 25 C sustained three 10 cm cracks in the right wing skin, 2 m from the wingtip. The SZD-50-3 showed only yellow paint transfers and paint abrasions on the lower right fuselage and nose wheel. Both aircraft landed safely on runway 05. ## Meteorological and Operational Context Weather conditions included over 10 km visibility, light cloud cover, wind from the north at 7 knots, and a temperature of 18°C. The sun was positioned at approximately 186 degrees at the time of the incident. The airfield had recently installed a new asphalt runway in June 2020, replacing a grass runway. The SF 25 C was acquired in 2020 to tow gliders more economically than a powered aircraft, which previously had a rope retrieval system.