What happened
On April 25, 2010, a Schleicher ASK 8B glider, registration D-0816, was conducting a local flight at the La Montagne Noire airfield. After taking off via aero-tow at approximately 15:00, the pilot released from the tow cable at an altitude of 900 meters. Approximately fifteen minutes later, due to deteriorating aerological conditions, the pilot decided to terminate the flight and begin an approach to runway 03.
During the base leg, the pilot deployed approximately half of the airbrake settings. As the aircraft transitioned to the final approach at roughly 100 km/le, the pilot noted that the touchdown point was positioned beyond the runway threshold. While flying into the wind, the glider encountered a downdraft caused by the sloping terrain downwind of the airfield. Despite retracting the airbrakes in an attempt to maintain altitude, the aircraft drifted toward a roadside embankment and a perimeter road.
Realizing the aircraft could no longer reach the airfield, the pilot attempted a left turn to land in a descending field located below the aircraft's path. During this maneuver, the glider struck the ground at a low forward speed with a significant left bank and high vertical descent rate. The impact resulted in the destruction of the aircraft.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the flight path, the meteorological conditions, and the pilot's decision-making process. Investigators examined the aircraft's wreckage and the impact site, noting that the tracks left in the ground indicated the glider had completed a turn of at least 90 degrees relative to the runway axis.
Environmental analysis confirmed the presence of 15-knot winds from 360 degrees and irregular thermal activity. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's training and experience, noting that while the pilot had completed solo training at this specific airfield, there had been a significant gap in flight activity, with the previous flight occurring in October 2009. Furthermore, the investigation reviewed the glider pilot manual, which specifically instructs pilots to adjust final approach plans when downward movements are predictable due to terrain features.