What happened
On September 8, 2012, a student pilot was conducting his second solo flight in a Schleicher ASK 21 glider, registration F-CBDR, following a winch launch from the Itxassou aerodrome. During the flight, the pilot attempted to utilize thermals near the western slope of Pic d’Artzamendi at an altitude of 850 meters. However, finding the lift insufficient, the pilot maneuvered to the opposite slope, where he inadvertently entered sink conditions on the lee side of the terrain.
As the aircraft lost altitude rapidly, the pilot notified his instructor via radio of his intention to return to the aerodrome. Following the instructor's suggestion to proceed directly to the base leg for runway 26, the pilot realized he lacked the altitude necessary to reach the runway. Consequently, he opted to perform an emergency landing in a field located below the aerodrome. During the final approach, the pilot successfully avoided a power line but struck trees with the left wing. The impact caused the glider to pivot and strike the ground heavily before coming to a halt.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the pilot's decision-making and his familiarity with the local terrain. It was established that the student had completed his first solo flight in early August 2012 but had not flown in a dual-instruction capacity since that time. While the instructor had previously suggested a specific, known field for emergency use, the pilot failed to identify this location.
Furthermore, the investigation revealed that the student had not practiced identifying suitable emergency landing sites in the vicinity of the aerodrome during his training. The pilot's total flight time on this aircraft type was 24 hours. The instructor, an experienced pilot with 2,400 total hours, believed the student may have misunderstood or failed to hear the radio instructions regarding the designated emergency field.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the student's improvised emergency landing in an unrecognized field.
- The pilot failed to detect obstacles at the edge of the field early enough to avoid the collision.
- The initial decision to fly on the lee side of the terrain was inappropriate, leading to a loss of altitude that prevented a return to the aerodrome.
- A lack of prior training in identifying alternative landing sites left the pilot without a prepared contingency plan.