What happened
On August 23, 2014, a Glaser Dirks DG-300 Elan glider, registration D-1arg1969, was participating in the XIV Copa Pirineos competition when it was forced to perform an emergency landing. The flight departed from the Santa Cilia de Jaca aerodrome at 14:22 local time.
While navigating the competition course, the pilot was flying toward the 'LAS BLANCAS' waypoint. Approximately 6.5 km from the 'BROTO' waypoint, while overflying the eastern slope of the mountain located between Linás de Broto and Yésero, the aircraft encountered a powerful downdraft. This atmospheric condition caused a sudden and progressive loss of altitude. Unable to regain sufficient height to continue the flight, the pilot executed an emergency landing on a mountainside near Torla, Huesca, at 17:30 local time.
The investigation
The CIAIAC investigation reconstructed the flight path using data from a GPS-based logger carried by the pilot. The data confirmed the aircraft's trajectory through the competition waypoints, including AISA and BROTO, and documented the altitude loss during the encounter with the descending air current.
Investigators examined the wreckage and found significant damage, including breaks and deformations to the nose, the lower part of the cockpit, and the wings. The fuselage had split into two sections near the tail. Despite the structural damage, the investigation confirmed that the cockpit remained intact and the control cables remained continuous. The pilot sustained one serious injury (a fractured vertebra) but was able to exit the aircraft and wait for rescue.