2022 Dillingen glider accident

Overview and identification details On 1 May 2022, an Alexander Schleicher ASW 24 E glider was destroyed in an accident at the Dillingen/Saar glider field. The German Federal Aviation Accident Investigation Office (BFU) closed the investigation with a factual presentation, without analysis or conclusions. The aircraft was a self-launching, single-seat, standard-class glider with a 15 m wingspan, built in 1992 (serial number 24855). It was privately operated in Germany and had a total operating time of 3,593 hours at the time of the accident. The last annual inspection was carried out on 27 October 2021. ## Flight and accident sequence The glider started a winch launch at 15:01:18 local time from launch site Segelflug 06. GPS data from the FLARM collision-avoidance device showed the aircraft reached a maximum height of 67 m AGL, then turned right toward the east. Witnesses reported that the tow cable broke at approximately 60 m tow height. The glider then flew south of the aircraft hangar and east of the winch. As it turned back toward the field at about 20–30 m above ground, it suddenly banked left, struck a tree with the left wing, rotated about the vertical axis, and impacted the ground nose-first. The pilot was recovered from the wreckage with serious injuries. ## Pilot and aircraft condition The pilot was a 66-year-old holder of an EU Part-FCL glider licence, first issued on 23 May 1975, with unlimited validity. His licence included rights for sailplane PIC, winch launch, aero tow launch, and self-launch. His last proficiency check was on 21 July 2021 in an ASK 21. His total flight experience was about 4,490 hours, with 2,992 hours and 848 takeoffs and landings on the accident type. His last cable-break exercise was in 2020. The accident flight was his first flight in the glider in 2022. The aircraft was equipped with a Rotax 275 engine and a fixed MT 140 L 97-1B propeller. The calculated takeoff mass was 417.6 kg, with the centre of gravity within limits. No technical defects were found on the aircraft, the winch, or the tow harness. The weak link was a reserve configuration, and both weak links had broken. ## Meteorological and site information At the time of the accident, visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The wind was from 070°–080° at 5–9 kt, visibility was more than 10,000 m, scattered cloud base was at 3,500 ft AMSL, ground temperature was 17 °C, and QNH was 1,020 hPa. The glider field is located 2 NM north-northeast of Dillingen city centre at 784 ft AMSL, with a 686 m by 30 m grass runway 06/24 and a parallel winch launch area. The winch was operating in the 060° direction. ## Survival aspects The pilot was wearing shoulder harnesses, which did not break during the impact. The ASW 24 E’s safety cockpit nose absorbed a large part of the impact energy. The pilot remained conscious and responsive. The winch operator provided first aid and called emergency services, and the pilot was transported by rescue helicopter to a hospital. Fuel leaked at the scene and was covered with absorbent material; no fire occurred.