What happened
On March 4, 2007, at approximately 13:20 UTC, a Grob Astir CS 77 glider, registration I-LVBG, was performing a recreational flight near the "Paolo Contri" airport in Calcinate del Pesce. During the final phase of the landing approach, the aircraft struck a tree. This collision induced a yawing motion around the vertical axis, causing the glider to spin and subsequently impact the ground. The impact occurred in a nose-down attitude with a left-side bank exceeding 100 degrees.
The investigation
The ANSV investigation examined the aircraft, the flight conditions, and the sequence of events leading to the crash. The investigation confirmed that the weather conditions at the time of the accident were excellent, with high visibility, no wind, and no precipitation. The aircraft, operated by Aero Club "Adele Orsi," was a single-seat fiberglass glider with a valid certificate of airworthiness. The pilot, a 53-year-old male with a valid glider license and a current medical certificate, had accumulated 97.09 total flight hours.
Analysis of the damage to the forward fuselage and the specific deformations observed indicated the severe nature of the ground impact following the tree strike.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the pilot's incorrect assessment of the aircraft's height above the ground during the final landing phase.
- This error was compounded by an inadequate monitoring of obstacles in the immediate vicinity of the aircraft's flight path.
- The collision with the tree led to a total loss of control and the eventual destruction of the aircraft, which sustained damage exceeding 60% of its structure, rendering it beyond economical repair.
- The pilot sustained minor injuries, including contusions and a sprained left knee.