What happened
On May 8, 2016, a Grob G 103 "TWIN II" glider departed from the Leuzendorf glider airfield for a training flight. The aircraft was being operated by a flight instructor and a student pilot. After an initial climb to approximately 390 meters, the flight continued in the area west of the airfield.
Approximately one hour into the flight, the crew approached the airfield from the southwest to land on runway 08. Witnesses observed the glider performing a crosswind approach to the right of the runway, subsequently turning northeast to shorten the approach. During the final stages of the approach, the instructor determined that the aircraft did not have sufficient altitude to clear a small wooded area, a situation further complicated by strong easterly winds.
At an altitude of approximately 70 meters and roughly 200 meters before reaching the trees, the instructor decided to execute an off-field landing. The pilot initiated a right-hand turn toward the south. During this maneuver, the aircraft's path intersected a power line running perpendicular to the landing direction. The glider impacted a grain field containing crops approximately 60-70 cm high. The impact was hard, causing the aircraft to spin approximately 180 degrees on its vertical axis. The landing resulted in one person seriously injured and heavy damage to the aircraft.
The investigation
The BFU examined the flight path using recorded flight data and inspected the wreckage at the site. The investigation focused on the aircraft's structural condition, the meteorological conditions at the time of the accident, and the pilot's decision-making process regarding the approach and the subsequent off-field landing.
Findings
- The aircraft sustained severe structural damage to the wings, landing gear, and canopy. The fuselage tube was also broken approximately 40 cm behind the registration.
- No technical defects were found in the aircraft.
- Meteorological conditions included visibility of more than 10 km and a cloud base above 5,000 ft, but the wind was gusty from the east at up to 20 knots.
- The pilot's decision to perform an off-field landing was driven by insufficient altitude to clear obstacles and the difficulty of managing the approach in strong crosswinds.