What happened
On the afternoon of March 22, 2007, a Schleicher ASW 15 glider, registration D-0495, was involved in a fatal accident in the Saou region of France. The pilot, who was part of a group of three gliders visiting the Aubenasson area, departed at 11:03 local time. Around 12:00, another pilot in the group observed the aircraft flying along the Roche Courbe slope at an altitude of approximately 1,400 meters. Shortly thereafter, the pilot of D-0495 reported via radio that the aircraft's battery was low and that radio communications would soon be lost.
As weather conditions deteriorated, the other two pilots decided to return to the airfield around 13:00, noting increased cloud cover at 1,500 meters, turbulent air, and light snow showers. When the pilot failed to return by 18:00, an alert was initiated. The wreckage was located five days later in the Saou forest. The aircraft was not equipped with an emergency locator transmitter.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the flight path and the impact dynamics. Analysis of the wreckage, debris distribution, and impact marks in the forest indicated that the glider was traveling in a westward direction at the time of the crash. The impact was characterized by a low angle and high horizontal velocity.
Investigators were able to partially reconstruct the flight path using GPS data extracted from the aircraft's FLARM unit, though data was only available for the first nineteen minutes of the flight. Local glider pilots also provided context regarding the terrain, noting that the area between the two parallel east-west ridges is known for severe turbulence when winds are from the north.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the decision to continue flying despite deteriorating meteorological conditions.
- The pilot encountered worsening weather, including increased cloud cover and reduced visibility due to snow showers.
- The aircraft was not equipped with an emergency beacon, which delayed the discovery of the wreckage.
- The pilot experienced a loss of radio communication due to a low battery prior to the impact.