What happened
On July 15, 2021, at 13:12 UTC, a mid-air collision occurred east of Merkinė, Lithuania, involving two gliders participating in a competition. The aircraft involved were a Rolladen-Schneider LS 8-a, registered as OY-SEX, and a Schempp-Hirth Discus 2A, registered as D-2691. The incident took place during the en route phase of flight under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) in daylight and clear meteorological conditions.
The investigation
The Lithuanian safety investigation authority, the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Lithuania (Transport Accident and Incident Investigation Division), led the inquiry. The Danish Accident Investigation Board (Havarikommissionen) participated in the investigation through an accredited representative. The investigation examined the circumstances of the flight, which originated from Pociūnai (EYPR), and analyzed the impact of the collision on both aircraft.
Findings
There were no fatalities or injuries resulting from the collision. However, the impact caused substantial damage to the aircraft. The Rolladen-Schneider LS 8-a (OY-SEX) sustained significant damage, specifically to the left side of the fuselage just below the left wing leading edge, where debris from the other aircraft remained embedded. The Schempp-Hirth Discus 2A (D-2691) was destroyed, with the wreckage located in a wooded area.