What happened
On June 26, 2010, a solo instructional flight was being conducted at the Ocaña aerodrome in Toledo. The student pilot was operating a Schleicher ASK-21, registration EC-BUK. After a 16-minute flight, the pilot performed a landing on the right side of the runway strip for runway 29. At the time of the landing, two other gliders and a towplane were positioned on the runway.
Following the touchdown, the pilot began to roll along the strip. During this phase, the pilot became distracted by another aircraft taxiing toward the apron. This loss of focus caused the aircraft to veer left toward the centerline. The left wingtip of the Schleaker ASK-21 struck the raised right wing of a stationary glider (registration EC-BTH) that was waiting to be towed.
The impact caused the EC-BUK to swerve sharply and enter a ground loop. The aircraft then collided with the cockpit area of the towplane, a Robin DR400-180R (registration EC-BTN), which was idling on the runway. The impact forced the glider's right wing into the propeller arc of the towplane, causing significant damage to the propeller and the engine. All pilots involved escaped the aircraft without injury.
The investigation
The CIAIAC investigation examined the flight sequence, the pilot's actions, and the airfield's operational procedures. The investigation reviewed the student pilot's statements, the flight instructor's supervision, and the meteorological conditions at the time of the accident. The investigators also assessed the aircraft damage and the existing safety protocols for glider operations at the aerodrome.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was pilot distraction following the landing, which led to a loss of directional control.
- The pilot's attention was diverted by observing another aircraft taxiing on the airfield.
- A contributing factor was the configuration of the stationary glider (EC-BTH), which had its right wing raised; had the wing been resting on the ground, the collision might have been avoided.
- The investigation noted that the student pilot's use of air brakes was premature, as the aircraft still possessed excessive speed, though the instructor had attempted to correct this via radio.
- The weather conditions were favorable and did not contribute to the event.