What happened
On May 15, 2010, at approximately 10:14 AM, a student pilot was performing a circuit flight at the Iserlohn-Sümmern airfield. The aircraft, a single-seat Schleicher K8B glider, initially completed its takeoff and circuit maneuvers without incident. However, during the final approach to runway 05, the glider failed to reach the runway and collided with trees located at the edge of an adjacent wooded area.
Witnesses observed the glider falling almost vertically toward the ground. The impact caused the aircraft to sustain heavy damage, specifically destroying the cockpit area. Portions of the right wing separated from the aircraft upon contact with the trees, and a large section of the horizontal stabilizer was also found caught in the vegetation. The student pilot, who had approximately 23 total flight hours, sustained serious injuries but remained strapped into the aircraft until emergency responders arrived.
The investigation
The BFU investigation examined the flight path, the condition of the aircraft, and meteorological data. Video recordings from the takeoff site captured the flight behavior during the final approach. These recordings also included audio of radio communications, revealing that the student pilot had been instructed via radio to correct the operation of the airbrake spoilers during the final stages of the approach. The pilot reported that they had ceased radio communications during the final part of the landing sequence.
Technical inspections of the Schleicher K8B revealed no mechanical defects or flight control malfunctions. Meteorological conditions at the time of the accident were favorable, with visual flight rules (VFR) conditions, visibility exceeding 10 km, and a light northeast wind of 10-15 km/h.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was an undershot landing resulting in a collision with trees.
- The student pilot was receiving radio instructions regarding airbrake management during the final approach but was not actively communicating back during the critical final phase.
- The aircraft was structurally sound and free of technical defects prior to the impact.