What happened
On June 27, 2015, at approximately 16:00 local time, a Centrair 101A glider, registration F-CHFX, was completing a flight of nearly two hours at the Castelsarracia-Moissac aerodrome. The pilot entered the traffic pattern on a right-hand downwind leg for runway 28 and deployed the landing gear.
During the final approach, the pilot struggled to stabilize the aircraft's trajectory despite attempting to use the airbrakes. Perceiving that the glider was both too high and traveling at an excessive speed, the aircraft overshot the end of the unpaved runway and came to a stop beyond the threshold. While the pilot reported the gear was extended, a ground witness observed the aircraft with the landing gear retracted during the final approach.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the pilot's actions during the approach and the mechanical configuration of the aircraft. Investigators reviewed the pilot's flight experience, noting that while the pilot held a glider license with 141 total hours, they had only flown 1 hour and 20 minutes in the preceding 90 days, primarily on a different aircraft type. This was the pilot's first flight in the Centrair 101A.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was confusion between the airbrake and landing gear controls during the final approach.
- The pilot's limited recent flight experience and lack of familiarity with this specific glider model contributed to the error.
- The aircraft sustained damage to the right wing leading edge and broken ailerons.