What happened
On June 16, 2013, a Ventus 2CM motor glider, registration D-KURY, crashed into terrain near Saint-Geniez, France. The pilot was participating in the seventh stage of the European Gliding Championship, flying a circuit that began at Vinon and included several waypoints through the Alps.
After taking off around 13:00, the pilot reached an altitude of approximately 1,800 meters. While navigating the northwest slope of the La Vaumuse mountain, the pilot attempted to utilize a thermal by performing a spiral maneuver. During this maneuver, the pilot lost control of the aircraft, which subsequently collided with the terrain at an altitude of approximately 1,060 meters. The accident resulted in one fatality and the destruction of the aircraft.
The investigation
The BEA examined the wreckage and flight data from the GP941 calculator. Technical examinations of the aircraft revealed no mechanical malfunctions that contributed to the accident. The pilot was an experienced aviator with approximately 3,000 total flight hours, including 600 hours on this specific type, and was accustomed to mountain flying.
Investigators analyzed the meteorological conditions at the time, which included light to moderate turbulence and scattered cumulus clouds. Data from the flight computer indicated that during the spiral, the aircraft maintained an average indicated airspeed of 110 km/h with a bank angle of approximately 45 degrees. While the stall speed in level flight is 79 km/h, the increased load factor during the turn raised the stall speed to approximately 95 km/h.
Findings
- The pilot was flying on the leeward side of the mountain slope, an area prone to sink and turbulence.
- Performing spiral maneuvers below the ridge level significantly reduces the margin of safety, as the pilot may lack sufficient altitude to recover from a loss of control.
- The competitive environment likely influenced the pilot's decision to attempt a spiral maneuver in close proximity to the terrain.
- The investigation could not determine the specific cause of the loss of control.