Fatal Motor Glider Accident at Mönchsheide Glider Field

Accident Overview and Aircraft Details On 11 June 2011, a single-seat Schleicher ASH 26 E motor glider crashed into a wooded area northeast of the Mönchsheide glider field, located near Bad Breisig, Germany. The aircraft, built in 2003 and operated by a private flying club, was equipped with a Midwest AE50R engine. The 53-year-old pilot, who held a glider license and had 1,169 total flight hours, was fatally injured at the scene. The aircraft sustained heavy damage, including a destroyed cockpit and a detached right winglet, while the glider flaps were found in the landing position. ## Flight Sequence and Approach The pilot departed Mönchsheide at 11:19 local time for a 478 km cross-country flight, reaching a maximum altitude of approximately 1,600 m AGL. During the final approach, the pilot initiated a circuit pattern from the northeast rather than a direct approach from the right bank of the Rhine, where the aircraft was still at a safe altitude of 285 m above the airfield. The final turn was entered at 95 m AGL and completed at 60 m AGL, approximately 1,100 m from the runway threshold. ## Contributing Factors and Investigation Findings The BFU investigation concluded that the accident occurred when the aircraft struck trees at the edge of a forest during the final approach. Contributing factors included the pilot's decision to forgo a direct approach, a significant loss of altitude during the final phase, and deteriorating weather conditions, including light rain and increasing winds. The pilot's fatigue after a six-hour flight and the lack of radio communication regarding wind direction were also noted as potential influences on the approach decision.