What happened
On April 12, 2017, a Schleicher ASW22 glider, registration D-6393, departed from the Sainte-Croix-du-Verdon airfield for a towed flight. After approximately two and a half hours of soaring at altitudes between 2,000 and 3,000 meters, the pilot announced an intention to return to the departure airfield. However, the aircraft actually turned southeast. During the flight, the pilot queried other aircraft on the frequency regarding the location of the village of Villars-sur-Var, but received no assistance.
As the flight progressed toward the Valdeblore sector, the pilot attempted to find thermals, but rising air currents were weakening due to increasing cloud cover. After approximately 30 minutes of searching for lift, the pilot decided to terminate the flight and seek a landing site. The pilot approached a paragliding landing site, performing a 360-degree turn. Witnesses observed that the pilot likely attempted to avoid children present on the field. During this maneuver, the glider entered a right bank with a heavy nose-down attitude, leading to a stall and a violent collision with the ground. The impact resulted in one fatality and the destruction of the aircraft.
The investigation
The BEA examined the wreckage and found no mechanical malfunctions contributing to the accident. Analysis of the onboard Flarm system showed it had stopped functioning at 15:40 for unknown reasons. Data from the variometer allowed investigators to reconstruct the flight path.
Investigators also reviewed meteorological conditions, noting that while visibility was good, the formation of a thick stratocumulus layer had significantly reduced thermal activity. The investigation also focused on the pilot's medical status, noting that the pilot was taking medication known to increase fatigue and sensitivity to high-altitude hypoxia. Furthermore, the physiological strain of maintaining oxygenation at altitudes above 1,500 meters, combined with existing fatigue, was evaluated.