Incident Overview
On May 29, 2011, a two-seat Schleicher ASK 21 glider was involved in an accident at the Iserlohn-Rheinermark airfield. The investigation, conducted by the German Federal Office for Accident Investigation (BFU) under case number BFU 3X065-11, concluded that the aircraft suffered heavy damage and both occupants were injured.
Flight Sequence
The glider commenced a winch launch at 15:00 local time with two individuals on board. According to witness accounts, the aircraft gained altitude slowly, reaching approximately 40 meters above ground level near the center of the runway. After the tow line detached from the attachment point, the glider executed a left turn of roughly 90 degrees and departed the airfield at low altitude.
Crash Dynamics
The pilot reported attempting to avoid trees and bushes before steering the aircraft toward the ground near a building to initiate a spin. The glider came to rest in a wheat field approximately 312 meters south of the airfield reference point. The first impact occurred about 30 meters from the final resting position.
Damage and Injuries
The aircraft sustained significant structural damage, including breaks in the fiber structure of both wings near the tips and delamination on the underside of the left wing. The tail boom fractured approximately 1.70 meters ahead of the vertical stabilizer. No technical defects were identified during the examination. The 68-year-old pilot suffered a lumbar vertebra fracture, while the 17-year-old passenger sustained minor injuries.