What happened
On July 22, 2001, a Glasflügel/Cl-Libelle glider departed from the Kirchzarten glider field via winch launch for a cross-country flight. The pilot, who had approximately 391 total flight hours, failed to return to the airfield or report a landing, prompting a search operation.
On July 24, 2001, a search and rescue helicopter located the wreckage in a forested area south of Buchenbach, specifically near the Falkensteig district. Flight path reconstruction using data from an onboard Volkslogger GPS unit revealed that the flight lasted approximately two minutes. After reaching an unhooking altitude of about 400 meters, the pilot flew east at approximately 105 km/h. Upon reaching the slope, the aircraft's speed decreased to below 80 km/h as the pilot entered a left-hand turn to seek thermal lift. During this maneuver, the aircraft struck trees, creating a 15-meter-long path of destruction through the forest before impacting the ground vertically. The pilot sustained fatal injuries.
The investigation
The BFU examined the wreckage and the flight data recorded by the GPS device. The investigation confirmed that the aircraft was properly maintained, with its last annual inspection completed in March 2001, and the weight and balance were within manufacturer specifications. No technical malfunctions were found in the flight controls or the airframe; all observed damage was consistent with the impact with trees and the ground. Investigators also noted that the aircraft's emergency locator transmitter (ELT) was found in the switched-off position, which contributed to the delay in locating the wreckage.
Findings
- The pilot misjudged the altitude and clearance from obstacles while approaching a forested slope.
- The aircraft's right wingtip made the initial contact with the tree canopy.
- The aircraft's ELT was not activated, hindering the immediate discovery of the crash site.