What happened
On June 5, 2012, at 17:13 local time, a Schempp-Hirth Ventus 2C glider, registration D-4629, was participating in a speed competition near La Roche-de-Rame, France. The pilot had departed from Vinon-sur-Verdon earlier that afternoon for a course involving three specific turning points.
While flying north between the second and third turning points, the pilot observed other gliders performing figure-eight patterns along a slope at a higher altitude. In an attempt to reach these gliders and utilize the same rising air currents, the pilot altered his course to fly on a path nearly perpendicular to the slope. As the aircraft approached the terrain, it encountered downdrafts. Due to the proximity to the rising terrain and the lack of sufficient altitude or space to execute a turn away from the slope, the pilot attempted an emergency landing in the trees. The aircraft struck the treetops before impacting the ground, resulting in the destruction of the glider and one injury to the pilot.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the pilot's flight path and the meteorological conditions at the time of the accident. The pilot was an extremely experienced aviator with 6,400 total flight hours, including 450 hours on this specific type, and held several world championship titles.
Meteorological analysis revealed moderate to strong turbulence near a confluence line between a valley breeze and a northern westerly flow. The investigation also examined the pilot's recent flight schedule, noting that this was the third consecutive day of competition and that the pilot had flown the day before the competition began to practice.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the pilot's decision to fly a trajectory perpendicular to the slope when approaching the terrain. This flight path prevented the pilot from maneuvering away from the relief once downdrafts were encountered.
- Standard procedure for approaching a slope typically involves a tangential approach via a wide turn initiated far from the terrain.
- Contributing factors included fatigue resulting from the consecutive days of competition flying and the high-pressure context of the competition itself.