What happened
On April 22, 2002, at approximately 14:30 UTC, a DG300 ELAN glider, registration I-AVAH, crashed into a mountain ridge in the Pejo area, specifically near Malga, Trentino. The aircraft, operated by Aero Club Volovelistico Alpino, was conducting a recreational flight after departing from Valbrembo earlier that morning.
During the flight, the pilot contacted another glider via radio to request navigational advice due to deteriorating weather conditions. Following a suggestion to seek rising air currents near the Pejo ridge to reach higher altitudes, the pilot radioed again ten minutes later, mentioning they had encountered a downdraft. Shortly after this communication, radio contact was lost. A witness in the valley reported hearing a loud noise similar to a falling rock at that same time.
The wreckage was located the following day at an altitude of approximately 1,850 meters in a steep, snow-covered area. The cockpit was wedged between a large larch tree and a rock, and the pilot was found deceased within the wreckage.
The investigation
The ANSV investigation focused on determining the sequence of events leading to the impact. Investigators examined the aircraft's condition and the environmental factors present at the time of the accident. The investigation noted that the aircraft's Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) failed to activate because it was destroyed upon impact.
Physical evidence at the crash site, including the lack of damage to surrounding vegetation and the nose-down attitude of the wreckage, indicated a nearly vertical descent trajectory. The investigation found no evidence of mechanical failure or medical issues affecting the pilot, confirming the aircraft was in an airworthy condition.
Findings
- The pilot likely attempted to locate rising air currents by performing turns, which led to an excessive reduction in airspeed.
- The primary cause of the accident was loss of control resulting from an aerodynamic stall and subsequent spin.
- The proximity to the terrain prevented the pilot from executing the necessary recovery maneuvers from the spin.