What happened
On June 14, 2010, a Schleicher ASW 20 BL glider, registration PH-1435, was performing a cross-country flight from Veendam to Porta Westfalica, Germany. On the return leg, the pilot encountered worsening weather conditions north of Emmen. While the aircraft had initially regained sufficient altitude to reach Veendam, increasing wind speeds caused the glider to drop below the necessary glide path.
As the pilot attempted to align with a suitable landing field near Nieuwedelang, the aircraft experienced a high rate of descent during a crosswind leg. In an attempt to reach the field, the pilot turned into the final approach leg at a low altitude. During this phase, the pilot selected the landing flaps. However, due to the strength of the wind, the aircraft could not maintain the required glide slope to reach the intended pasture. The lower fuselage struck the bank of a ditch just meters before the field, and the momentum carried the aircraft through a barbed-wire fence before it came to a stop approximately ten meters into the field.
The investigation
The investigation, based on the pilot's written statement, focused on the flight path and the impact of meteorological conditions. The inquiry established that the pilot was flying under visual flight rules (VFR) with visibility exceeding ten kilometers and no precipitation. While the official forecast predicted northerly winds of 13 to 14 km/h, the pilot reported that the actual wind speeds felt significantly higher.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the inability to maintain the glide path due to increasing wind speeds.
- The selection of landing flaps at a low altitude, combined with heavy wind, contributed to the loss of altitude.
- The aircraft sustained heavy damage, including a broken fuselage, a dented nose, scratches to the canopy, and significant damage to the left wing.
- There were no injuries to the pilot, who exited the aircraft unharmed.