What happened
On June 5, 2015, a Schempp-Hirth Ventus 2cM motor glider, registration D-KSEW, crashed on the eastern slope of Mount Paganella in the municipality of Terlago, Italy. The flight departed from Trento's G. Caproni airport at 08:24 UTC. After an initial period of powered flight, the pilot transitioned to unpowered soaring at approximately 1,978 meters.
At 09:16 UTC, the aircraft's flight data logger recorded its final position at an altitude of 1,605 meters. The data indicated the aircraft was performing a right-hand turn with a bank angle between 40° and 45°. Shortly thereafter, the aircraft struck the terrain at approximately 1,450 meters. The impact was characterized by a nearly vertical descent with a level attitude relative to the ground. The pilot was found deceased at the scene.
The investigation
The ANSV investigation examined the wreckage, flight data from the onboard LX90 and flight logs, and the aircraft's weight and balance configuration. Investigators analyzed the aircraft's structural damage, which included a severely damaged cockpit, broken tail surfaces, and damaged wing leading edges.
Technical analysis focused on the aircraft's center of gravity (CG) and the aerodynamic conditions at the time of the accident. Investigators reviewed the pilot's extensive experience and the meteorological conditions, which included light winds and the potential for localized turbulence near the mountain's rocky terrain. An autopsy was also conducted to determine if any medical emergency contributed to the loss of control, though findings showed only minor, non-exclusive cardiac findings.
Findings
- The aircraft was likely operating with a center of gravity behind the maximum allowable aft limit. Calculations based on the pilot's weight, fuel load, and water ballast suggested a CG position that exceeded the manufacturer's specified limits.
- The aircraft likely entered a stall during a turn, which subsequently developed into a spin. The investigation suggests that localized turbulence or instability on the mountain slope may have triggered this aerodynamic stall.
- The altitude loss between the last recorded flight point and the impact site was insufficient to allow for a safe recovery from a spin. Given the aircraft's configuration, a recovery from such a state would have required at least 200 meters of altitude.
- The vertical impact and the orientation of the wreckage suggest the pilot may have attempted a control input to avoid the terrain, potentially inducing a secondary stall during the recovery attempt.