What happened
On August 2, 2024, a student pilot was conducting a solo cross-country training flight in an Alexander Schleicher K8B glider, registration D-3036. The flight, operated by Gliding Adventures Europe, was intended to cover at least 50 km between Saint-Florentin-Chéu and Châtillon-sur-Seine.
After a winch takeoff, the pilot initially found sufficient thermal activity to reach an altitude of 450 m. However, as the flight progressed toward Tonnerre, the pilot began losing altitude rapidly. While attempting to locate further uplifts near Percey, the pilot realized the aircraft was too low to return to the departure aerodrome and decided to perform a precautionary landing.
During the landing sequence, the pilot initially identified a wheat field bordered by trees and power lines. While attempting to manage the approach, the pilot realized the ground speed was too high for a safe landing in that specific field. In an attempt to reach an alternative field to the north-naught-east, the pilot executed a maneuver that resulted in the left wing striking a tree. The glider subsequently overturned and came to rest in a roadside ditch.
The investigation
The BEA investigation relied on statements from the student pilot and data from the aircraft's FLARM system. The investigation focused on the pilot's decision-making process regarding altitude monitoring and the execution of the off-airfield landing pattern. The investigation also reviewed meteorological data from Météo-France, which indicated overcast conditions and variable winds in the region at the time of the accident.
Findings
- The pilot was late in realizing the need to abort the flight, which left insufficient time to properly plan and execute a stabilized precautionary landing.
- The student pilot's focus on searching for thermal uplifts led to a failure to adequately monitor the aircraft's descending altitude.
- The pilot's motivation to complete the required solo distance before the end of the training course influenced the decision to continue flying despite deteriorating conditions.
- The final approach was non-stabilized, characterized by inadequate height, improper glider configuration, and excessive speed.
- A miscalculation of the wind direction contributed to the pilot's inability to land safely in the initially chosen field.