What happened
On 21 May 2020, a Centrair 101A Pegase glider, registered F-CHDJ, was performing a local flight at the Barcelonnette aerodrome. After being towed and releasing the cable at 1,900 m, the pilot performed several maneuvers but, unable to find sufficient lift, decided to return to the aerodrome to land.
While configuring the aircraft for landing, the pilot experienced a sudden, significant increase in the rate of descent. Believing the descent was due to atmospheric turbulence, the pilot attempted a U-shaped approach to reach the runway. During the final turn, the left wing struck a tree, causing the glider to impact the ground upside down approximately 130 m before the runway threshold. The accident resulted in one pilot severely injured and the destruction of the aircraft.
The investigation
The BEA examined the wreckage and found that the landing gear was retracted and the speed brake control was locked in an intermediate position. The investigation revealed that the speed brake system on this specific aircraft had been modified with a notch system to allow for partial extension, a feature not present on unmodified Pegase models.
Investigators also reviewed the pilot's recent flight history, noting that this was his first flight following a long period of inactivity due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, the investigation found that the aircraft's FLARM anti-collision system had been non-operational since September 2019, and the pilot had not been briefed on the specific characteristics of the modified speed brake controls.