What happened
On August 21, 2007, at approximately 12:00, a glider pilot departed from Königsdorf airfield via aero-tow for a thermal flight. After roughly 10 minutes of flight, the pilot released from the tow aircraft at an altitude of 2,126 meters MSL near Badria, close to Bad Tölz. The pilot then proceeded toward the Kreuth Valley, attempting to gain altitude using thermal updrafts on two separate occasions.
By approximately 12:30, the LS 7 WL reached the Roßstein peak at an altitude of about 1,800 meters MSL. In an effort to utilize weak thermal activity, the pilot performed left-hand turns. During one of these maneuvers, the aircraft entered a steep bank and struck the rocky terrain at Roßstein with a heavy longitudinal pitch. The impact resulted in the destruction of the aircraft and the fatal injury of the pilot.
The investigation
The BFU investigation examined the flight path using data retrieved from satellite-based recording devices carried on board. The wreckage was located on a steep, rocky slope at an elevation of approximately 1,500 meters. Physical examination of the aircraft revealed that the cockpit was crushed upon impact and the fuselage had broken away approximately one meter behind the wing assembly. The investigation found no evidence of technical malfunctions or mechanical failure prior to the impact.
Findings
- The pilot, who held a pilot license since 1983 and had 763 total flight hours, had relatively limited experience with this specific model, with approximately 29 hours on the LS 7 WL.
- Meteorological conditions at the time of the accident were visual flight rules (VFR) with nearly cloudless skies and light winds from 130 degrees at approximately 5 knots.
- The primary cause of the accident was the aircraft's loss of control during a turn while attempting to exploit weak thermal lift.