Incident Overview
On May 30, 2009, a two-seat Schleicher ASK 21 glider was involved in an accident at the traffic landing ground of Kamp-Lintfort. The aircraft sustained heavy damage, and one person on board suffered severe injuries. The investigation was conducted by the German Federal Aviation Office (BFU).
Flight Details and Sequence of Events
The glider took off around 16:05 local time using a winch launch with two occupants aboard. After releasing from the winch cable, the aircraft flew several circuits in the southern area of the airfield. Approximately twelve minutes into the flight, the pilot initiated an approach for landing. During the final approach from the west, the glider entered a significant sink rate. At a low altitude, roughly 100 meters before the airfield boundary, the right wing struck trees. This impact caused the aircraft to rotate approximately 180 degrees around its vertical axis before crashing onto the roof of a swimming pool.
Casualties and Damage
The pilot, a 43-year-old male with a valid license and approximately 500 hours of total flight experience, was not reported as severely injured in the summary. However, the passenger seated in the rear suffered severe head injuries when a structural beam from the pool roof penetrated the cockpit area. The glider was heavily damaged, and there was additional damage to the surrounding field and buildings.
Meteorological Conditions and Investigation Findings
Weather conditions at the time of the accident were visual flight rules (VFR) with light cloud cover. Witnesses reported very gusty winds from 70-100 degrees at speeds between 12 and 18 knots. The investigation found no technical defects in the aircraft, which had been last inspected on March 17, 2009. The probable cause was determined to be the pilot's incorrect assessment of altitude and obstacle clearance during the approach under challenging wind conditions.