What happened
On March 8, 2000, a Glaser Dirks DG200 glider, registration D-6223, was performing a flight from Serre La Bâtie to Seyne Les Alpes. While navigating the sector near the Col du Labouret, the pilot found the aircraft at an altitude too low to safely reach the intended destination aerodrome.
In response to the low altitude, the pilot attempted an off-field landing in a clearing measuring approximately 150 meters in length and 40 meters in width. During the landing sequence, the glider struck a snow-covered area before sliding roughly 80 meters across grassy terrain. The impact resulted in heavy damage to the aircraft, including the loss of the right wingtip and the rudder, as well as a structural crack in the fuselage at the wing root.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the circumstances leading to the decision to land in an unmapped area. Investigators examined the flight path and the pilot's maneuvers near the Col du Labouret. The pilot confirmed that the decision to perform the field landing was made after the aircraft was no longer near a recognized aerodrome or a previously identified landing field.