What happened
On July 16, 2022, a glider flight departed from the Weipertshofen glider airfield for a cross-country flight. The Alexander Schleicher ASW 24 was launched via aero-tow on runway 29. After the glider released from the towplane at approximately 400 meters above the airfield elevation, the flight path initially headed northwest. The pilot then corrected the course toward the northeast to enter the northern circuit of the airfield.
Following the release, the aircraft began a continuous loss of altitude. While maneuvering into the circuit, the glider entered an uncontrolled flight attitude at an altitude of approximately 100 meters above ground level. The aircraft struck a meadow roughly 770 meters north of the airfield. The pilot sustained fatal injuries in the impact, and the aircraft was destroyed.
The investigation
The BFU investigation utilized GPS data from a collision warning device and a mobile phone to reconstruct the flight path and speed. The investigation examined the aircraft's maintenance history, noting it was properly registered and inspected. The pilot's credentials and recent flight experience were also reviewed. Physical examination of the wreckage revealed that the cockpit area was destroyed, the horizontal stabilizer was broken, and the left wing spar had failed. No evidence of technical malfunctions or pre-existing mechanical defects was found. Medical examinations of the pilot showed no evidence of sudden loss of consciousness due to internal organ issues.
Findings
- The aircraft entered an uncontrolled flight attitude while maneuvering into the airfield circuit.
- The pilot failed to maintain the minimum required airspeed during the initiation of the turn.
- The low altitude at the time of the stall prevented the pilot from recovering the aircraft's flight attitude.