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2 fatalities

2009 Schleicher ASK 13 accident near Seyne-les-Alpes

Conséquences et dommages, FR

On September 22, 2009, a Schleicher ASK 13 was involved in an aviation accident near Conséquences et dommages, FR. 2 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The accident resulted from the decision to conduct ridge soaring downwind of terrain when general weather conditions did not appear favorable for that type of flight. This summary draws on records from the French Bureau d'Enquêtes et d'Analyses (BEA).

Sourcesthe French Bureau d'Enquêtes et d'Analyses (BEA)Primary reportUpdated 2026-10-18Data APIEditorial standards

A private Schleicher ASK 13 glider, registration F-CHHI, collided with a mountain on 22 September 2009. The pilot and passenger died, and the aircraft was destroyed.

Overview and immediate consequences On 22 September 2009, a private Schleicher ASK 13 glider registered F-CHHI struck the ground on Montagne de la Blanche, located 36 km east of La Motte-du-Caire, near Seyne-les-Alpes. The pilot and passenger were killed, and the glider was destroyed. ## Flight sequence and conditions The pilot took off at 14:03 from the La Motte-du-Caire glider site with one passenger. At 18:37, the aircraft collided with the mountain. Estimated weather at the site included wind from 030° at 10 kt, visibility over 10 km, clear sky, and a temperature of 25°C. A FLARM unit helped determine the accident time, but the final flight path could not be precisely reconstructed. Data indicated a gradual loss of altitude during the four minutes before impact. ## Crew background and local context The passenger, seated in the front, was the chief pilot of a Dutch gliding club and had limited mountain experience. The rear-seat pilot was a member of the same club, had 787 flight hours, and had been soaring in the region for about fifteen years. Other pilots flying that day reported conditions as unfavorable for ridge soaring.

Probable cause

The accident resulted from the decision to conduct ridge soaring downwind of terrain when general weather conditions did not appear favorable for that type of flight.
Controlled flight into terrain

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 22 Sept 2009 Schleicher ASK 13 accident near Conséquences et dommages, FR?

A private Schleicher ASK 13 glider, registration F-CHHI, collided with a mountain on 22 September 2009. The pilot and passenger died, and the aircraft was destroyed.

Were there any fatalities in the 22 Sept 2009 Schleicher ASK 13 accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 2 fatalities.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 22 Sept 2009 involved a Schleicher ASK 13, at Conséquences et dommages, FR.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The accident resulted from the decision to conduct ridge soaring downwind of terrain when general weather conditions did not appear favorable for that type of flight.

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