What happened
On July 21, 2002, a Schleicher ASW 24 glider departed from the Gießen-Wieseck glider field via winch launch for a local, private flight. The weather conditions at the time were characterized by winds of 30-40 km/h with stronger gusts, alongside powerful but highly turbulent and broken thermals.
After approximately five minutes of flight, the pilot approached the airfield area at an altitude of about 250 m. While attempting to find thermal lift near the airfield's "position," the pilot followed two other gliders and initiated a right-hand circling maneuver. As the bank angle increased, the ASW 24 tipped to the right, developing a steep spin.
After approximately two rotations, the pilot managed to recover from the spin and attempted to pull up while at a low altitude. During this recovery, the aircraft flew toward a row of poplar trees. The glider was pulled up sharply, reaching an altitude of approximately 30-50 m, but at the peak of the maneuver, the aircraft tipped again. At approximately 16:54, the glider struck a meadow at a longitudinal pitch of 70-80°. The pilot sustained fatal injuries in the impact.
The investigation
The BFU examined the aircraft and the circumstances surrounding the flight. The investigation confirmed that the Schleering ASW 24 was airworthy, with its last annual inspection completed in April 2002. The aircraft's center of gravity was found to be within the permitted rear limits, and the total weight, including the pilot and a rescue parachute, was within limits.
Examination of the wreckage revealed broken control linkages caused by the impact, but no evidence of mechanical failure was found that could have contributed to the accident. The investigation also noted that the pilot had approximately 253 hours of total flight experience, including 26 hours in this specific model.