What happened
On August 8, 2002, at the Terlet gliding center, a Schleicher ASK 23 B glider, registration PH-882, was performing a routine local flight. Following a short flight of approximately four minutes, the aircraft landed on the airfield. As the pilot taxied off the runway toward the hangar platform, the wheel brake failed to function.
Unable to steer toward the open field to avoid obstacles, the pilot attempted an evasive maneuver by banking sharply to the right while lifting the left wingtip. Despite this effort, the left wing of the PH-882 struck the rudder of a parked Scheibe SF 25 C motor glider, registration PH-725. The impact caused the glider to rebound and rotate slightly before coming to a stop. There were no injuries resulting from the incident, though both aircraft sustained damage, with the PH-725 suffering significant damage.
The investigation
Investigators examined the flight path and the mechanical failure of the braking system. An eyewitness on the ground noted that while the approach altitude appeared normal, the aircraft's approach speed seemed excessively high, evidenced by the aircraft touching down much further down the field than usual.
The investigation also looked into the maintenance of the braking system. While daily pre-flight inspections are required to verify brake functionality, it was not confirmed whether such a check had been successfully performed on this occasion.
Findings
- The primary cause of the collision was a combination of an excessive approach speed and a steering error that directed the aircraft toward the hangar area, leaving insufficient space to stop.
- A contributing factor was the malfunctioning wheel brake, which prevented the pilot from decelerating effectively during the taxi.
- The pilot's decision to steer toward the hangar platform rather than toward the open field limited the available options for avoiding the parked aircraft.