What happened
On April 5, 2001, at approximately 12:30 UTC, a Schempp-Hirth Discus bT motor glider, registration D-KHWS, was involved in a crash in the Piateda Alta region of Italy. The aircraft had taken off from Caiolo via aero-tow. Shortly after releasing from the tow plane, the glider entered a heavily wooded, snow-covered area known as Legno Marcio at an altitude of approximately 1,600 meters. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the aircraft. The pilot, the sole occupant, managed to exit the wreckage and walked to the nearby Gaggio area to seek assistance. Following the incident, the pilot was transported to a hospital in Sondrio for medical evaluation and was later discharged.
The investigation
The investigation examined the flight conditions and the mechanical state of the aircraft. Meteorological data from nearby stations in Bergamo, Lecco, and Trento indicated atmospheric instability, with potential for showers and variable winds ranging from 10 km/h to 20 km/h, with gusts reaching up to 37 km/h. The pilot reported that approximately ten minutes after releasing from the tow plane, the aircraft encountered turbulence severe enough to induce a loss of control. Investigators also noted that while the aircraft was equipped with a Solo 2350 engine, this specific propulsion system is intended to assist with off-field landings rather than for emergency use, as it requires airflow for startup and cannot be used for autonomous takeoff.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the loss of control in flight.
- Atmospheric instability and turbulence likely acted as a contributing factor to the loss of control.