Glider Collision with Terrain at Col de Vars (F-CEAT)

Incident Overview and Aircraft Details On August 1, 2013, at approximately 17:00 local time, a glider operated by a club was involved in a collision with the ground at Col de Vars in the 05 department, at an altitude of 2,380 meters. The aircraft was a Schleicher ASK 13 with the registration F-CEAT. The flight was classified as general aviation and carried a pilot and a passenger. The accident resulted in the death of the passenger, injuries to the pilot, and the destruction of the glider. ## Flight Sequence and Circumstances The pilot, accompanied by a friend, departed from Mont-Dauphin Saint-Crépin aerodrome at 14:27 for a local flight. After approximately two and a half hours of flight, the pilot decided to return to the departure aerodrome while flying at low altitude over the slopes of Col de Vars. During a turn, the left wing struck the ground, causing the pilot to lose control and the glider to collide with the terrain. A camera held by the front-seat passenger recorded the end of the flight. The footage showed the glider flying at very low altitudes over descending slopes during the final minutes, including a pass near hikers. The recording confirmed that the left wing struck the ground. The pilot stated he was in the local area of the aerodrome and heading toward the location where the passenger was flying model gliders. ## Operational History and Weather Conditions The club's chief pilot reported having observed the pilot making low passes during previous flights. The chief pilot had summoned the pilot twice to request explanations. Following the second summons, the pilot decided to stop conducting initiation flights for the club. Examinations of the wreckage did not reveal any malfunction that could have contributed to the accident. Estimated weather conditions at the accident site included wind from 220 degrees at 12 knots, slope wind phenomena, few clouds with cumulus, a temperature of 18 degrees Celsius, and light to moderate turbulence. The pilot was 55 years old and had approximately 1,800 hours of glider flight time, including 60 hours in the preceding three months, with 10 hours on type.