What happened
On May 3, 2019, a pilot was participating in the Elverum Grand Prix, a cross-country gliding competition in Grue municipality, Norway. The aircraft, an Alexander Schleicher ASH 31 Mi with registration LN-GOM, was flying a 248 km course. While other competitors had already aborted their flights due to deteriorating weather, the pilot of LN-GOM continued the mission.
As the flight progressed, the aircraft began losing altitude over the terrain. After passing the turning point at Kirkenær, the glider descended below the minimum altitude required to safely restart its engine. Despite passing several suitable locations for an outlanding, the aircraft continued to lose height. While performing a right-hand turn at an altitude of approximately 41 meters, the aircraft lost control. Video evidence indicates the glider experienced a wing drop and nose pitch, characteristic of an incidental spin. Due to the extremely low altitude, the pilot was unable to recover before the impact, resulting in one fatality.
The investigation
The Norwegian Safety Investigation Authority (NSIA) examined several factors, including weather data, aircraft mechanics, and the pilot's physiological state. Investigators analyzed radar imagery and meteorological reports, which showed that snow showers and intense activity had arrived earlier and more forcefully than forecasted. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's physical condition, noting that the pilot was not dressed sufficiently for the freezing temperatures, which reached -10 °C at 1,500 meters.
Findings
- The aircraft entered an incipient spin at a height too low for recovery.
- The pilot was flying below the safe altitude required to utilize the engine to regain altitude.
- Sudden wind gusts or downdrafts associated with nearby convective activity may have contributed to the loss of control.
- The pilot may have been suffering from hypothermia due to four hours of flight in extreme cold without adequate clothing, which could have impaired decision-making or physical performance.