What happened
On April 14, 2007, a Schempp-Hirth Standard Cirrus glider, registration D-1125, was involved in a fatal accident near Monte Albareto, in the municipality of Terenzo, Italy. The flight began at the Rubbiano airfield, where the glider was launched via aero-tow at approximately 10:55 UTC. After releasing from the towplane at an altitude of roughly 2,000 feet near Monte Prinzera, the pilot proceeded with a recreational flight.
Data recovered from an onboard logger revealed that the flight path involved several maneuvers, including transitions between the Monte Prinzera and Monte Albareto areas. During the final minute of flight, the aircraft was recorded flying at an altitude of approximately 870 meters (GPS) before a sudden loss of altitude was detected. The glider eventually impacted the terrain in a heavily wooded area. The wreckage was discovered later that afternoon by another glider pilot, and emergency responders confirmed the death of the pilot and the total destruction of the aircraft.
The investigation
The ANSV investigation focused on the wreckage, meteorological data, and flight data logs. Examination of the wreckage showed that the glider struck the vegetation with a steep, nose-down attitude. The impact was violent; the right wing struck a small tree, causing it to be nearly uprooted, which subsequently induced a rotation from right to left. The tail surfaces were also displaced forward and to the right, indicating the rotational forces present at impact.
Meteorological analysis indicated stable atmospheric conditions with light winds (7 to 12 knots) and excellent visibility, ruling out severe weather phenomena like rotors as a cause. The investigation also analyzed the flight logger, which showed the aircraft lost approximately 70 meters of altitude in less than eight seconds during its final recorded interval, suggesting an immediate loss of control following the last valid data point.
Findings
- The accident was likely caused by a stall in a turn, which led the glider into a spin.
- The low altitude at the time of the stall (approximately 70 meters AGL) left the pilot with insufficient height to execute any recovery maneuvers.
- The pilot's limited flight experience (approximately 102 total hours) may have contributed to the loss of control.
- The aircraft's flight path indicated the pilot may have been maneuvering to find lift on the lee side of the mountain or was transitioning to return to the airfield, potentially flying at a speed near the stall threshold.