What happened
On 7 July 2018, a SCHLEICHDER ASK-13 sailplane, registration EC-LPT, was participating in a private flight at the aerodrome of Santo Tomé del Puerto, Spain. The flight began with a tow from runway 15, carrying two occupants. During the initial climb, the pilot released the tow cable approximately 2 km northwest of the airfield at an altitude of 250 m, intending to utilize a detected thermal updraft.
After being unable to find sufficient lift and encountering a headwind, the pilot decided to return to the aerodrome for a landing on runway 15. During the final approach, the pilot encountered strong leeward downdrafts. In an attempt to maintain airspeed and counteract the sink rate, the pilot lowered the nose; however, the aircraft failed to reach the runway threshold. At an altitude of approximately 1 m, the right wing struck a small tree, causing the aircraft to land sideways on its main gear with the left wingtip touching the ground. The two uninjured occupants were able to exit the aircraft under their own power.
The investigation
The investigation examined the flight sequence, meteorological conditions, and the aircraft's technical state. Investigators confirmed that the pilot held a valid license and medical certificate, and the aircraft's documentation and maintenance records were up to date. Meteorological data indicated that while wind speeds were not high, the time of day and season were conducive to the presence of updrafts. The investigation focused on the aircraft's inability to reach the runway threshold despite the pilot's efforts to manage the descent.