What happened
On August 13, 2002, at approximately 16:45, a Schempp Hirth Nimbus 2 glider, registration D-2967, was performing a local flight at the Puimoisson aerodrome. The pilot had departed from the airfield earlier that afternoon at 13:10 and had been airborne for approximately three and a half hours.
As the pilot prepared to land on runway 26, the aircraft was positioned in a downwind pattern. During the final right-hand turn toward the runway, witnesses observed the glider at a very low altitude. During this maneuver, the aircraft suddenly banked to the left, causing the left wing to strike trees. The glider subsequently impacted the ground roughly 600 meters from the runway threshold.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the flight path and the aircraft's attitude during the final approach. Investigators noted that the pilot had been visiting the Puimoisson aerodrome annually since at least 1999. At the time of the accident, weather conditions were reported as CAVOK with a light west wind of 5 to 10 knots. The investigation established that the aircraft sustained heavy damage and the pilot sustained injuries during the impact.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the pilot's late decision to return to the aerodrome.
- The sudden leftward bank during the final right-hand turn led to the wing strike with nearby trees.