What happened
On July 24, 2021, a Scheibe Bergfale-II glider, registration EC-MDE, was performing local flights at the El Tiétar Aerodrome in Toledo, Spain. The flight, conducted under visual flight rules (VFR), involved a pilot and one passenger. The aircraft had been launched via winch and was executing the aerodrome traffic pattern.
During the base leg of the circuit, the pilot experienced a sudden increase in wind intensity. As the aircraft turned toward the base leg, the pilot noted a significant lateral drift. In an attempt to correct the situation, the pilot decided to cut the circuit and fly directly toward the runway threshold of runway 22. However, the glider experienced a heavy descent and failed to maintain sufficient altitude to reach the runway.
During the final approach, the nose of the glider collided with the aerodrome's perimeter fence. The impact caused the aircraft to stop and resulted in the collapse of a 2.5-meter radio antenna mast attached to the fence. Both occupants were able to exit the aircraft uninjured.
The investigation
The investigation examined the aircraft's damage, meteorological conditions, and the flight maneuver. The aircraft sustained significant damage to the left wing and minor damage to the nose cone. The impact with the fence also caused damage to the perimeter structure and the antenna mast.
Investigators analyzed the flight path and determined that while the pilot attempted to intercept the runway, the glider was flying at an altitude insufficient for a safe landing. The investigation also noted that the pilot's experience included over 1,300 flight hours, though only approximately 20 hours had been logged in this specific aircraft type.