What happened
On November 18, 2018, an Alexander Schleicher KA6E glider, registration F-CDYL, was engaged in a local ridge soaring flight near La Roque-Esclapon, France. The pilot, a 16-year-old with approximately 87 total flight hours, had departed from Fayence earlier that day with the goal of accumulating flight time to meet requirements for passenger carrying privileges.
While navigating the terrain, the pilot encountered a lack of lift under a cloud layer and began losing altitude. Despite being below the club's recommended safety altitudes, the pilot continued toward the south face of the Montagne du Lachens, hoping to find thermal or ridge lift. While flying very close to the terrain to exploit potential updrafts, the pilot spotted a vulture in close proximity. In an attempt to maneuver away from the bird, the pilot banked the aircraft 45 degrees to the right. During this maneuver, the right wing struck the top of a tree, causing the glider to roll and subsequently strike the ground approximately twenty meters later. The impact resulted in the destruction of the glider and one minor injury to the pilot.
The investigation
The BEA examined GPS data recovered from the aircraft's FLARM unit, which recorded position and altitude every two seconds. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's flight experience, club safety protocols, and meteorological conditions at the time of the accident. Investigators analyzed the pilot's decision-making process regarding altitude maintenance and the proximity of the flight path to the terrain.