What happened
On 19 August 2020, a SCHEMPP HIRTH - VENTUS 2B glider, registered F-CIJT, crashed in a forested area near Saint-André-les-Alpes. The pilot had departed from Fayence-Tourrettes aerodrome earlier that day for a local slope soaring flight. Witnesses observed the aircraft struggling to find sufficient lift near the Crémon ridge, noting the pilot was performing maneuvers such as figures-of-eight and spirals while maintaining a relatively constant altitude.
Later in the afternoon, the glider was seen flying at a low altitude near the Grau ridge. After the aircraft disappeared behind the ridge, a loud thud was heard by a witness. The wreckage was eventually located in a wooded area 40 meters below the ridge crest. The impact was high-energy, resulting in the death of the pilot and the destruction of the aircraft.
The investigation
The BEA examined wreckage, flight data from the aircraft's GNSS computer and OGN tracking, and meteorological reports. Investigators analyzed the aircraft's flight path, which showed the pilot was unable to gain enough altitude to cross the Teillon massif to reach his destination. Consequently, the pilot attempted to use the terrain near the Grau ridge for lift.
The investigation also reviewed the pilot's experience and physiological state. The pilot had approximately 475 flight hours, with significant recent experience on this type. Investigators noted that the aircraft was equipped with an oxygen system, but the pilot was not wearing the cannulas at the time of the crash. Additionally, the investigation looked into the effectiveness of the search and rescue response, noting that the initial alert to local emergency services was vague and that the aircraft's emergency locator transmitter (ELT) was in the "OFF" position.
Findings
- The pilot was unable to reach the departure aerodrome due to insufficient altitude to clear the Teillon massif, leading to a decision to seek alternative lift.
- The aircraft was flying in an area where the Grau ridge was likely shielded from the wind by the Pidanoux ledge, resulting in weak or irregular uplifts.
- The pilot was flying in a zone where thermal convection could cause sudden destabilization, specifically near a ravine at the edge of a forest.
- The pilot's altitude and distance from the slope at the time of the maneuver provided insufficient safety margins to avoid the terrain.
- Potential hypoxia and fatigue at the end of a long flight may have contributed to the loss of control.
- The failure to activate the ELT before takeoff hindered the immediate localization of the wreckage by specialized aeronautical rescue services.