What happened
On August 5, 2024, a Rolladen Schneider LS6-18w glider, registration F-CPRN, was engaged in a cross-country flight in the French Alps. After taking off from Fayence - Tourrettes aerodrome, the pilot flew north through the Alps, eventually entering the Maurienne valley.
As the flight progressed, the aircraft's altitude began to decline steadily. While flying near Saint-Rémy de Maurienne, the glider's altitude dropped to approximately 1,000 meters and continued to decrease at a vertical speed of -5 m/s. In an attempt to avoid the terrain, the pilot maneuvered away from the slope, but the aircraft's altitude continued to fall, reaching just 30 meters above the ground before the collision. The glider struck the ground with a nose-down attitude and a right-hand bank, resulting in the destruction of the aircraft and leaving the pilot seriously injured.
The investigation
The investigation, based largely on FLARM data, established that the aircraft was flying in conditions unfavorable for thermodynamic flight. While there were light thermal uplifts on some mountain peaks, the Maurienne valley lacked sufficient lift due to high cloud cover and light winds.
Investigators examined the wreckage and found the flight controls were functional at the time of impact. The landing gear was found in an intermediate position between retracted and extended. The investigation also noted that the pilot, while highly experienced with over 6,400 flight hours, had very little experience flying in the specific Maurienne region. Furthermore, investigators could not confirm if the pilot had access to water during the flight, noting that no water bottles were found at the crash site.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the collision with the ground during an attempted off-airfield landing.
- The pilot's lack of familiarity with the Maurienne flight sector may have contributed to the decision to continue the flight despite unfavorable air conditions and the subsequent error during the landing attempt.
- The loss of altitude was driven by the absence of sufficient thermal or dynamic lift in the valley.
- A potential contributing factor is the risk of dehydration; the lack of found water supplies at the site suggests that impaired cognitive functions due to dehydration could have affected flight management.