What happened
On July 30, 2019, a student pilot participating in a summer flight camp at the Hütten-Hotzenwald airfield launched a Glasflügel Hornet via winch start. Following a flight instruction for thermic soaring in the local area, the pilot eventually found himself unable to reach the airfield due to a loss of altitude.
Radio communications between the student and his instructor revealed that the pilot was struggling to maintain height. As the aircraft's altitude dropped, the pilot realized he could no longer reach the airfield and needed to seek an alternative landing site. While attempting to maneuver toward a field, the aircraft entered a steep left-hand turn at an altitude estimated between 50 and 80 meters. During this maneuver, the glider stalled, resulting in a high-angle, near-vertical impact with a road near Rickenbach. The student pilot sustained fatal injuries, and the aircraft was destroyed.
The investigation
The BFU investigation examined the flight path data, radio communications, and the aircraft's condition. Flight logs showed that the pilot had flown approximately 27 hours with 130 starts, including 21 starts in the Hornet model. The investigation reviewed the instructor's oversight and the student's decision-making process. Technical inspections of the Hornet revealed no mechanical failures or defects in the control systems. The investigation also noted that the aircraft was being flown with a rearward center of gravity, within the documented limits.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was that the minimum flight speed was undershot during a low-altitude turn, leading to an uncontrolled stall.
- The student pilot's lack of experience with forced landings and a lack of sufficient altitude reserve prevented him from recovering from the stall.
- The decision to initiate an emergency landing was made too late.
- The pilot continued to search for thermic lift at an altitude of less than 150 meters, which prevented adequate preparation for the landing.
- The instructor was largely unaware of the developing emergency because the student's flight path and the onset of the landing situation were not clearly communicated until the final moments.