What happened
On July 11, 2020, a Schleicher ASK 21 glider, registration OY-XDB, was involved in an accident during a training flight at Bolhede Glider Airfield. The flight, conducted under visual flight rules (VFR), was intended as a school session where the student and instructor had agreed to practice steep final approaches using fully extended air brakes.
During the maneuver, unexpected weather conditions—specifically localized rain showers—caused a higher-than-anticipated vertical sink rate while the aircraft was on the base leg and the final approach to runway 27. As the aircraft drifted below the optimal glide path, the instructor took control of the glider. Approximately 100 to 150 meters before the end of the runway, the aircraft passed over high trees. The instructor determined that the glider was too low to avoid a collision with a roughly 3-meter-tall windbreak located just before the runway boundary. The Schleicher ASK 21 struck the windbreak and crashed immediately after passing through it.
The investigation
The Danish Accident Investigation Board (Havarikommissionen) conducted an initial safety investigation into the event. The investigation established that the aircraft sustained significant damage, including a structural failure where the rear fuselage broke behind the cockpit and wing sections. Following the initial assessment, the board decided not to pursue further detailed investigation steps.