What happened
On June 28, 2007, a SCHEMPP-HIRTH FLUGZEUGBAU DUO DISCUS glider, registration PH 1213, was conducting a cross-country flight after departing from the Santa Cilia aerodrome. The crew, consisting of a pilot and a copilot, initially encountered favorable updrafts but found that thermal activity had weakened by mid-afternoon. Unable to maintain altitude, the pilot decided to perform an off-field landing in a field located on a plateau near Belsierre, Huesca.
During the approach, the pilot maintained an airspeed of 120 km/ $ ext{h}$ to mitigate the risk of unexpected downdrafts. The aircraft approached the field at a height of approximately one meter. As the glider reached the end of the available landing area, the pilot attempted to initiate a turn by tipping the right wing to avoid overshooting the field. During this maneuver, the cockpit struck the ground, causing the aircraft to break up. The impact resulted in one fatality and one serious injury.
The investigation
The investigation examined the flight sequence, the crew's decision-making, and the aircraft's performance parameters. The investigators reviewed the crew's statement regarding their assessment of surface winds and their approach speed. They also compared the pilot's actual approach speed against the manufacturer's recommended procedures outlined in the Flight Manual.
Findings
- The crew performed a 360-degree descent circuit to survey the landing site and identify wind indicators, but they were unable to confirm wind direction or speed via external visual cues.
- The pilot elected to fly at 120 km/ $ ext{h}$, which exceeded the recommended approach speed of approximately 90–100 km/ $ ext{h}$ for the aircraft's weight configuration.
- The high approach speed caused the aircraft to glide further than intended, reaching the end of the short field before the pilot could complete the landing.
- The high approach speed, stemming from an inaccurate assessment of surface winds, forced the pilot to attempt a sudden turn/stall to avoid overshooting, leading to the ground impact.