What happened
On June 4, 1999, at approximately 14:00, a Rolladen-Schneider LS3A-17 single-seat glider, registered D-6929, was engaged in a local flight near Mallefougasse, France. The pilot was participating in the final day of a two-week training course led by a German instructor. While flying near the south slope of Mount Lure at an altitude of 700 meters, the aircraft encountered challenging meteorological conditions. The pilot was unable to locate sufficient updrafts to maintain altitude and reach the Château-Arnoux-St Auban aerodrome, located roughly 8 km away. Consequently, the pilot was forced to perform an emergency landing, resulting in a collision with trees. The impact caused the total destruction of the glider.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the flight conditions and the pilot's inability to navigate back to the airfield. At the time of the accident, local meteorological conditions were estimated to include winds from 330° at 15 knots, with CAVOK visibility. The investigation examined the flight path near the terrain of Mount Lure and the aerodynamic challenges presented by the local topography during the flight.