What happened
On July 27, 2014, a Rolladen-Schneider LS6 glider, registration D-2141, was performing a winch launch from the unpaved glider runway at Angers Marcé aerodrome. During the launch, the pilot experienced insufficient acceleration, reaching a maximum altitude of approximately 350 meters and a speed of 100 km/h. In an attempt to increase speed to 120 km/h and search for rising air currents (thermals) to the north, the pilot adopted a nose-down attitude.
Upon finding no lift, the pilot decided to terminate the flight and return to the unpaved runway 26. While transitioning toward the aerodrome circuit, the pilot noted an abnormally high sink rate of approximately 3 m/s. The pilot proceeded with a shortened circuit, deploying the landing gear and 10° flaps. During the final turn to align with the runway, the pilot deployed the airbrakes. The glider entered a steep descent, and the pilot was unable to maintain sufficient altitude to execute a proper flare. Consequently, the aircraft struck the ground heavily on the unpaved runway, resulting in heavy damage to the glider.
The investigation
The BEA examined the flight trajectory, the winch launch performance, and the pilot's decision-making process. The investigation reviewed the meteorological conditions, which were stable with light winds (2 knots) and good visibility. The investigators also analyzed the pilot's experience, noting he was a highly experienced glider pilot with over 3,300 flight hours.
Technical analysis focused on the sink rate and the energy available during the final approach. While the investigation could not determine the specific cause of the increased sink rate, it established that the pilot's decision to shorten the circuit and perform a final turn at a low altitude left insufficient energy to manage the landing flare.