What happened
On May 13, 2012, a collision occurred near the Melle-Grönegau airfield in Germany between a Schempp-Hirth Discus bT motor glider and a Tecnam P 92 Echo ultralight aircraft.
The motor glider pilot had performed a winch launch and was flying in the vicinity of Melle. Around 13:45, the pilot began descending to prepare for landing. While executing a left turn, the glider's left wing struck the left wing of the ultralight aircraft. The impact caused the glider's wing to break, leading the pilot to exit the aircraft using an automatic rescue parachute. The glider subsequently entered a spin and crashed into trees on an industrial property, where it remained suspended. The pilot landed in a garden and sustained one injury.
The ultralight aircraft had departed from the same airfield for a flight to Damme, carrying the pilot and his four-year-old son. Shortly after takeoff, the pilot turned right toward the north. During the flight, the pilot experienced a loud bang and a vibration, realizing the aircraft had collided with the glider. The impact damaged the ultralable's left wing, making the ailerons difficult to move. The pilot successfully returned to the airfield and performed an emergency landing on runway 27 without further incident.
The investigation
The BFU examined flight data from the glider's collision warning system and flight computer, as well as GPS data from the ultralight aircraft. The investigation analyzed the visibility conditions, the flight paths of both aircraft, and the structural damage sustained by both vehicles. Investigators also reviewed the cockpit visibility limitations of both aircraft types and the use of radio communications on the shared frequency.