What happened
On July 17, 2018, a Rolladen-Schneider LS 7-WL glider departed from Paterzell airfield (EDP and EDPZ) via aero-tow. After approximately 11 minutes of flight, the pilot released from the tow plane at an altitude of 2,251 m AMSL. The pilot proceeded to utilize thermal lift to gain altitude while soaring along the mountain ridges.
Approximately one hour into the flight, the glider was traveling west toward the Laber mountain. A paraglider pilot operating in the same area observed the glider following the contours of the rocky terrain at a very low altitude. The observer noted that the wind conditions were highly turbulent and challenging. The glider was seen performing a long, drawn-out loop and a full circle at a low altitude south of the Schartenkopf peak, before subsequently crashing into the steep, rugged terrain.
The paraglider pilot discovered the wreckage shortly thereafter and alerted emergency services. The impact occurred on a 50-degree slope at an elevation of approximately 1,444 m AMSL. The aircraft struck the rocky ground with its fuselage nose and left wing, causing the cockpit area to be destroyed. The pilot sustained fatal injuries in the accident.
The investigation
The BFU investigation examined the wreckage and the flight path recorded by a Flarm device recovered from the instrument panel. The investigation focused on the aircraft's structural condition, the meteorological environment, and the flight maneuvers leading up to the impact. The aircraft, a single-seat composite glider, showed no evidence of technical malfunction prior to the crash. The investigation also considered witness testimony from a paraglider pilot regarding the flight's behavior and the prevailing wind conditions.