What happened
On May 28, 2012, a Schempp-Hirth Discus bT glider, equipped with a retractable engine, was participating in a gliding competition. The flight began at the Ludwigshafen-Dannstadt airfield for a cross-country mission. After more than five hours of flight time, the aircraft reached the western outskirts of Ludwigshafen-Edigheim at a low altitude.
Witnesses observed the aircraft approaching from the southwest, performing an approach over the Ludwigshafen-Edigheim school center. The pilot began circling over the school building at an altitude of less than 150 meters. During one of the right-hand turns, the aircraft's nose suddenly pitched downward. At approximately 18:24, the glider struck the flat roof of the school building, penetrating the structure and crashing into a classroom below. The impact caused significant damage to the building, including a burst water pipe. The aircraft was destroyed, and the pilot sustained fatal injuries.
The investigation
The BFU investigation examined the pilot's credentials, the aircraft's maintenance history, and the environmental conditions at the time of the accident. The pilot held a valid glider license with extensive experience, including over 450 hours on this specific model. The Schempp-Hirth Discus bT was found to be airworthy, with its last inspection completed in March 2012, and its center of gravity was within the permitted limits.
Investigators found that the weather conditions were suitable for visual flight rules (VFR), though thermal activity had diminished due to the late hour. No technical defects were identified in the aircraft, and the engine was found in the retracted position. Due to the high degree of destruction at the crash site, no flight data recorders could be recovered.
Findings
- The pilot attempted to find rising air (thermals) at a very low altitude over the school building.
- As thermal conditions had weakened, the pilot was unable to gain sufficient altitude.
- The pilot did not activate the retractable engine for the return flight, despite the declining lift.
- The aircraft entered an unrecoverable accelerated stall (overstressed flight state) during a turn.
- The altitude was too low to recover from the stall or to successfully deploy the engine before impact.