Accident Overview
On 10 August 2025 at 13:26 local time, a glider with registration SE-UGE, model GROB-ASTIR CS JEANS, collided with a fence belonging to a horse paddock near Snogarp, Skåne County, Sweden. The glider was operated by Malmö Segelflygklubb and was conducting a soaring flight from Sjöbo-Sövde Airport.
Flight and Out-Landing
The pilot encountered an unexpected strong wind at altitude, which prevented a return to the departure airport. Consequently, the pilot prepared for an out-landing. The pilot selected a field with unfavorable wind direction and limited space. Additionally, the landing field sloped downward in the landing direction.
Landing and Collision
The landing was performed in a tailwind at high speed, resulting in a hard touchdown and a long braking distance despite fully deployed airbrakes. The glider bounced, veered, and subsequently struck a fence. The aircraft sustained structural damage, and the pilot suffered minor injuries from shards of the shattered canopy.
Injuries and Damage
The pilot sustained minor injuries. The glider sustained structural damage; no other injuries or damage were reported.
Aircraft and Pilot Information
The glider was airworthy with a valid certificate of airworthiness and no technical defects detected during the investigation. The pilot held the appropriate certification but had limited experience, particularly with unplanned out-landings.
Causes
The accident was caused by a misjudgment of the conditions for a safe out-landing. This resulted in a tight circuit under unfavorable circumstances, with both tailwind and excessive altitude. Upon reaching short final, the limited space and the terrain beyond the field left the pilot with no other option but to deliberately push the aircraft down to stop before the obstacles. A contributing factor was the pilot's limited experience with out-landings.