Fatal glider accident during solo landing at Hamm airfield

What happened

On October 12, 2008, a 15-year-old student pilot was performing solo circuit training at the Hamm-Lippewiesen airfield. The pilot, who had recently completed their solo flight training and passed the C-level flight test, was conducting a routine approach to runway 24. Witnesses observed the Grob G 102 Astir CS Jeans approaching the runway at an excessively high speed.

The aircraft initially made contact with the runway approximately 215 meters past the threshold. This initial impact caused the nose of the aircraft to pitch up, leading to a secondary impact roughly 256 meters from the threshold. During this second contact, the landing gear was driven into the fuselage, which deformed the elevator control linkage. This mechanical deformation forced the elevator into a position that caused the aircraft to pitch up sharply at an angle of approximately 40 degrees. The glider then stalled and tipped over the right wing, striking the ground nearly vertically with the nose of the fuselage. The impact resulted in the death of the pilot and the total destruction of the aircraft.

The investigation

The BFU examined the wreckage, flight data from an onboard Flarm device, and witness testimonies. The investigation focused on the flight path reconstruction and the mechanical failure of the control surfaces following the ground impact. Investigators also reviewed the training methodologies of the local gliding club (DAeC) regarding instructor supervision of solo flights.

Findings

• The final approach was conducted at an excessive airspeed.
• The initial touchdown caused the aircraft to bounce, increasing the angle of attack and reducing airspeed.
• An inappropriate control input during the bounce, combined with the mechanical failure of the elevator linkage caused by the landing gear being driven into the fuselage, led to an unrecoverable pitch-up.
• While the pilot was an advanced student, the instructor was not actively monitoring the flight via radio, which might have allowed for corrective guidance during the unstable approach.