What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2024-04-25 involved a Rolladen-Schneider LS6-B, registration OH-726, at French is the work of reference., FR.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot induced a stall at a very low altitude by applying a nose-up input to avoid trees while attempting to clear obstacles on the approach to runway 13.

Glider stall and hard landing at Seyne-les-Alpes aerodrome

A pilot sustained severe spinal injuries after a Rolladen-Schneider LS6-B stalled during an attempt to clear trees while approaching a runway.

What happened

On April 25, 2024, a Rolladen-Schneider LS6-B glider, registered OH-726, was performing a cross-country flight near the Seyne-les-Alpes aerodrome. Following a winch launch, the pilot released the cable at an altitude of approximately 350 meters. Seeking thermal lift, the pilot began performing spiral maneuvers in an area where other glider activity had been observed. However, due to unfavorable aerological conditions, the aircraft could not find sufficient lift and began losing altitude.

As the aircraft descended to approximately 100 meters, the pilot attempted to transition to the downwind leg for runway 31. Realizing the altitude was insufficient to complete the standard circuit, the pilot decided to land on runway 13 instead. While approaching the runway, the pilot encountered trees obstructing the flight path. In an attempt to clear the vegetation, the pilot applied a nose-up input, which caused the glider to stall at a height of only a few meters. The aircraft subsequently made a hard landing on the runway, resulting in one pilot severely injured and damage to the glider's landing gear.

The investigation

The investigation relied on the pilot's statements, FLARM data from the aircraft, and observations from the local air transport gendarmerie. Investigators examined the flight path, the meteorological conditions, and the pilot's experience. The investigation also noted that the pilot had used QNH altimeter settings, which he believed might have affected his altitude estimation, and that the flight was his first winch launch at this specific aerodrome.

Findings

The pilot began searching for uplifts at an altitude of approximately 175 meters, which was below the minimum recommended height of 250 meters for joining an aerodrome circuit.
The atmospheric conditions at the time were not conducive to finding the necessary lift.
The primary cause of the accident was the nose-up input to avoid trees, which induced a stall at a critically low altitude.
A contributing factor may have been the pilot's desire to complete the planned return flight to Fayence, which may have led to a delay in aborting the flight mission.

Safety action

The investigation highlighted the potential benefits of using an energy-absorbing seat cushion, noting that such equipment has mitigated injuries in similar hard-landing incidents involving the same aircraft model.