What happened
On July 25, 2008, a Scheibe SF 25C motor glider, registration D-KIOK, departed from the Serres La Batie airfield for a local sightseeing flight. The aircraft was carrying the pilot and one passenger. The flight proceeded into the Clarée Valley, where the pilot was flying at a low altitude along the eastern side of the valley.
As the aircraft approached a dead-end cirque at the northern end of the valley, the pilot initiated a left-hand turn and increased engine power to perform a U-turn. During this maneuver, the aircraft's left wingtip struck the ground on the western slope of the valley. The impact was severe, causing the aircraft to strike the terrain nose-first and eventually come to rest on its back. The impact resulted in two fatalities.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the flight path and the pilot's decision-making process. Investigators examined the wreckage, which showed significant structural damage, including a broken left wing and the engine being forced into the cockpit. The engine was found to be delivering power at the moment of impact, with the throttle at full power.
Witness testimony from a hiker confirmed that the aircraft was flying at a low altitude and that the engine noise increased significantly just before the crash was heard. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's flight logs, noting that while the pilot was experienced, he had performed very few motor glider flights in the months leading up to the accident. Additionally, the pilot had not informed anyone at the airfield of his intended route or flight duration.