What happened
On the afternoon of September 19, 2003, a Schempp Hirth Ventus C glider, registration F-CGLO, departed from the Fayence aerodrome for a local flight. After being towed to an altitude of approximately 1,200 meters, the pilot released the tow cable near the Malay-sud foothills and proceeded on a north-northwest course. The flight path took the aircraft toward the Montagne de Boules, a peak reaching 2,393 meters.
During the flight, the pilot was in radio contact with other glider pilots operating in the same area. Shortly before the accident, the pilot communicated via radio that he was struggling with intense turbulence. At approximately 13:35, the aircraft struck the southern face of the Montagne de Boules, roughly 25 meters below the ridgeline. The impact likely occurred when the right wing struck the rocky terrain. The wreckage slid 75 meters down a steep, 45-degree scree slope before coming to a halt. The impact resulted in the death of the pilot and the total destruction of the aircraft.
The investigation
Investigators examined the flight path using GPS data recorded by the glider, which provided altitude and position points at 20-second intervals. The investigation also considered the meteorological conditions at the time of the accident. Winds at 1,500 meters were recorded between 10 and 16 knots from the southeast, with significant orographic effects, while winds at 3,000 meters were slightly stronger at 16 to 20 knots.
Witness testimony from another pilot in the area confirmed the presence of severe turbulence. This pilot reported experiencing spontaneous aircraft banking of 20 to 30 degrees when flying over the accident site. The investigation also noted that the site is well-known among paraglider and hang glider pilots for its high level of turbulence, which often leads them to avoid the area.
Findings
- The pilot was highly experienced, with 3,850 total flight hours, including 865 hours on this specific aircraft type.
- The accident occurred while the pilot was maneuvering near steep terrain in an atmosphere characterized by strong turbulence.
- The aircraft was flying at a low altitude relative to the terrain, which prevented the pilot from effectively countering the sudden aerodynamic disturbances caused by the wind interacting with the mountainside.