What happened
On the afternoon of August 29, 2001, a Rolladen LS 3A glider, registration F-CESK, was performing a non-commercial pleasure flight near the Santa Cilia de Jaca aerodrome in Huesca, Spain. The aircraft was towed and released for flight, with the pilot serving as the sole occupant. While the exact time of takeoff was not recorded, radio contact with the aerodrome was noted around 17:30 local time, and a witness observed the aircraft in flight at approximately 18:30. The flight ended when the aircraft struck the summit of a gently sloping hill in the Pasaje San Salvador. The impact resulted in the fatal injury of the pilot and the total destruction of the aircraft.
The investigation
The investigation examined the wreckage, meteorological data, and the pilot's flight history. Analysis of the debris field showed that the aircraft hit the ground at a relatively low angle, heavily inclined to the right. The wreckage pattern—specifically the inversion of the right wingtip and the 90-degree rotation of the rear fuselage—indicated that the aircraft was traveling at considerable speed and veering right at the moment of impact. Investigators found no evidence of mechanical failure or malfunctions in the aircraft's systems. Furthermore, meteorological evidence, including recovered photographs taken by the pilot, confirmed that weather conditions were excellent for VFR flight, with high visibility and scattered cumulus clouds.
Findings
- The pilot was a qualified private glider pilot with significant flight experience.
- The Rolladen LS 3A held a valid certificate of airworthiness.
- Weather conditions were suitable for VFR operations.
- The aircraft struck the ground with the nose and right wingtip making contact first, causing the structural failure of the wing root and the rear fuselage.
- The most probable cause of the accident was the stalling of the right wing during a right-hand turn performed with insufficient altitude clearance from the terrain.