What happened
On September 14, 2012, a pilot departed from the Puimoisson aerodrome in a Rolladen Schneider LS 3-A, registration D-4585, for a local flight. The glider was towed and released at an altitude of approximately 1,500 meters near Serre de Montdenier.
During the flight, the pilot performed various maneuvers, including turns and figure-eights. During this period, the aircraft's altitude fluctuated, eventually dropping to 1,280 meters. While performing a turn in close proximity to the terrain, the pilot experienced a sudden and significant loss of both airspeed and altitude. Realizing that the terrain could not be avoided, the pilot executed an emergency landing on a flat area at an altitude of 1,505 meters. The aircraft was destroyed due to the impact with the uneven ground.
The investigation
The investigation examined the meteorological conditions and the flight path. On the day of the accident, the aeronautical forecast indicated stable, dry air with subsidence and very little convection, making conditions unfavorable for soaring. Local winds were estimated at 7 knots from 330 degrees at 1,000 meters and 2 knots from 020 degrees at 1,500 meters.
Investigators also reviewed the pilot's experience, noting that the pilot had accumulated approximately 1,200 flight hours since 1982. The tow plane pilot reported that several short-duration towing operations had been completed earlier that day without incident.