What happened
On August 21, 2015, a Schleicher K8-B glider, registration F-CILD, was conducting a local flight from the Aspres-sur-Buech aerodrome. After approximately three hours of flight, the pilot began an approach from the north, intending to join the aerodrome traffic pattern for runway 10. While maneuvering to descend via airbrake use, the pilot maintained visual contact with another aircraft on the base leg for runway 36.
During this maneuver, the glider began to drift eastward and experienced a rapid, unnoticed loss of altitude. Upon observing the other aircraft land, the pilot realized their altitude was lower than anticipated and attempted to redirect toward the runway 3/6 pattern. However, as the groundspeed became very low and the descent continued to accelerate, the pilot diverted toward the threshold of runway 28. The aircraft subsequently struck trees and the ground approximately 200 meters south of the runway 28 threshold, resulting in the destruction of the glider and one pilot slightly injured.
The investigation
The BEA examined the meteorological conditions, which included north-northwest winds of 20 to 25 km/h and scattered cumulus clouds. Analysis by Météo France confirmed established convection and local orographic downdrafts caused by wind gusts from the north. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's recent flight experience, noting a four-year hiatus in flying activity and that the pilot had no prior experience operating this specific glider model. Furthermore, the investigation considered the aerodrome's layout, noting that while the site is on a plateau, a plain suitable for emergency landings was available nearby.
Findings
- The pilot encountered significant downdrafts while approaching the aerodrome but failed to anticipate their impact.
- The pilot elected to continue the approach toward the aerodrome despite the degraded lift conditions, even though a suitable area for a precautionary field landing was available.
- The decision to land on runway 10, which involved a 6 to 8 knot tailwind component, contributed to the accident.
- The pilot's lack of recent flying experience and lack of experience with this specific aircraft type were contributing factors.