What happened
On August 8, 2021, a Lange Antares 23E glider, registration D-KVLS, was participating in the "Mediterranean Cup" international competition held at Rieti Airport. After approximately two hours of flight, the aircraft struck a mountain wall in the Val di Fua area, near Borgorose. The impact caused the total destruction of the glider and resulted in one fatality, as the pilot was found deceased at the scene.
The investigation
The ANSV investigation, conducted in coordination with the German BFU and EASA, examined the aircraft's certification status and flight parameters. At the time of the accident, the D-KVLS was flying under a Permit to Fly, as the full type certification process for the Antares 23E had not yet been finalized. While the aircraft was authorized for use in air racing and competitions, avionics data revealed that the glider had been used in locations and on dates that did not comply with the specific restrictions of its Permit to Fly.
Investigators also analyzed the aircraft's structural integrity and weight distribution. The aircraft utilized water ballast in the wings and tail, along with additional lead mass in the nose cone to manage the center of gravity. The investigation noted that the pilot had estimated the necessary trim weights based on his own weight rather than performing a specific weighing procedure. Furthermore, while the manufacturer had designed the cockpit as a "survival zone" using high-strength composite materials, the investigation found that the impact forces significantly exceeded the deceleration loads specified in the existing certification standards.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the high-energy impact with the mountainside.
- The aircraft was operating under a Permit to Fly that restricted its use to specific purposes and locations, but flight data showed usage outside these permitted parameters.
- The impact forces exceeded the structural design limits and the safety margins established by the manufacturer's calculations and existing JAR 22 regulations.
- There was a lack of experimental crash testing to verify the structural resistance of the glider during non-emergency impact scenarios.