What happened
On April 14, 2004, a Schleicher ASH 25 glider, registration D-6183, was conducting a training flight when the pilot decided to divert to the Belleville aerodrome. After departing from Lyon Corbas earlier in the afternoon, the pilot found that rising air currents were no longer sufficient to maintain altitude to return to the original departure point or reach Mâcon.
During the approach to Belleville, the pilot observed a change in wind direction via the windsock and decided to switch the landing configuration from runway 34 left to runway 16. While on the final approach with landing gear, flaps, and airbrakes fully deployed, the pilot noted the aircraft was flying above the required glide path. In an attempt to correct the descent, the pilot pushed the nose down, causing the airspeed to increase to approximately 120 km/h.
Upon touchdown, the aircraft contacted the runway mid-length. The pilot applied brakes while maintaining a high-tail attitude. As the aircraft reached the end of the runway, the pilot attempted to steer the glider off the paved surface toward an adjacent median by turning approximately 80 degrees to the right. This maneuver, performed at an excessive speed, resulted in significant lateral forces that damaged the aircraft's empennage.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the pilot's decision-making during the approach and the physical mechanics of the excursion. Investigators examined the aircraft's performance capabilities, noting that while the glider can handle speeds up to 140 km/h to rejoin a glide path, the pilot's specific maneuver at the end of the runway was problematic. The investigation also noted that the flight computer was non-functional at the time of the accident due to a short circuit.