What happened
On 13 August 2010, a 17-year-old student pilot was conducting a solo local flight near the Saint-Hubert airfield (EBSH). The flight, performed in a Schleicher Ka 6 CR sailplane, began as an aerotow departure. After approximately 45 minutes of flight, the aircraft was observed by witnesses performing a tight turn at an dangerously low altitude.
During this maneuver, the aircraft entered a spin. Although the pilot managed to recover from the first spin, the nose subsequently pitched up, triggering a second stall and an incipient spin. The sailplane impacted the ground vertically in a field approximately 1km from the airfield. The pilot sustained fatal injuries and passed away shortly after being transported to a hospital.
The investigation
Investigators from AAIU(Be) examined the wreckage and the pilot's training history. The investigation confirmed the aircraft was airworthy and that the pilot held a valid Glider Pilot Training Licence. The wreckage analysis showed the aircraft fell vertically, with the nose shattered and the right wing destroyed.
Regarding the flight path, the investigation noted that the aircraft had descended below the established "safety cone"—a minimum altitude threshold assigned to students. While the exact reason for the initial loss of altitude remained undetermined, investigators considered possibilities such as a late decision to return to the airfield, encountering a downdraft, or a potential altimeter malfunction. The investigation also noted that the pilot had not been trained in outlanding procedures, which might have provided an alternative to attempting a return to the airfield.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was a loss of control during the pilot's attempt to reach the airfield.
- The student pilot lacked training in performing outlandings.
- The aircraft was in an airworthy condition at the time of the accident.
- The pilot was flying below the prescribed safety altitude for student operations.