What happened
On 16 July 2019, a Rolladen Schneider LS8–A glider, registration HB-3LD97, was engaged in a local flight near Thorame-Basse, France. The flight began with a towed takeoff from Vinon aerodrome. After navigating through various landmarks including Puimoisson and the Blayeul mountain, the pilot reached the Cheval Blanc mountain at an altitude of approximately 2,400 m.
While utilizing thermal uplift, the pilot flew along the ridge of the Cheval Blanc mountain in a northerly direction before turning toward the summit of Coste Longue. During the flight, the aircraft began losing altitude as the terrain elevation increased. After circling a peak, the glider descended below the level of the ridge. Realizing that a turn back toward the valley posed a significant risk of stalling, the pilot was forced to perform a landing on the side of the mountain at an altitude of 2,135 m. The pilot sustained one injury, and the glider suffered slight damage.
The investigation
The BEA reconstructed the flight path using GNSS data from the aircraft's LX8080 computer and FLARM module. Investigators also reviewed meteorological data from Météo-France, which indicated moderate to strong turbulence and a cloud base of 3,000 m at the time of the accident. The investigation also considered the proximity of the "Thorame" field, a known safe landing area, which was located approximately six kilometers from the crash site.
Findings
- The pilot continued flying in a direction that led the aircraft below the ridge line at a low height relative to the slope.
- The pilot encountered terrain that was higher than the glider's descending altitude.
- The pilot's decision to continue the flight in unfavorable conditions prevented a safe return to the valley and necessitated the forced landing on an unsuitable mountain slope.