What happened
On May 13, 2012, a Schempp-Hirth Discus CS glider, registration D-4508, departed from the Rossfeld glider airfield for a local thermal flight. After approximately 97 minutes of flight, the pilot returned from the north and announced via radio that the aircraft was configured for landing with the landing gear extended and locked.
Witnesses observed the glider entering the final approach for runway 05 at an excessively high angle of attack. As the aircraft crossed the path leading to the club house, it experienced a sudden drop from an altitude of approximately 4 to 5 meters. The glider struck the ground heavily, causing both wingtips to contact the surface. The aircraft briefly bounced to an altitude of about 2 meters before a second hard impact occurred. This second contact caused the glider to spin around its vertical axis, resulting in the fuselage tube breaking. The pilot sustained one serious injury.
The investigation
The BFU investigation utilized flight data from the aircraft's FLARM collision warning system to reconstruct the flight path. The investigation established that the initial point of impact was approximately 210 meters before the threshold of runway 05, near the centerline. The aircraft came to its final resting position about 52 meters further along the path.
Physical examination of the D-4508 revealed heavy structural damage to the wings, landing gear, and canopy. The fuselage tube had separated near the registration markings. The investigation confirmed that the landing gear was extended and the airbrake levers were unlocked at the time of the accident.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the excessive angle of attack during the final approach, which led to a loss of lift and a sudden drop in altitude.
- There were no technical defects found in the aircraft's systems or structure prior to the impact.