What happened
On July 23, 2001, a Schempp Hirth Janus CM motorized glider, registration D-KJWD, was conducting a local flight in the vicinity of Semnoz Mountain. The flight began earlier that afternoon with a winch takeoff from Challes-les-Eaux. After approximately three hours of flight time, the pilot was maneuvering over a plateau at an altitude of 1,600 meters.
Upon finding a lack of updrafts, the pilot intended to descend toward the valley; however, it became apparent that the aircraft lacked sufficient altitude to complete the descent to the valley floor. At an altitude of approximately thirty meters, the pilot decided to perform an emergency landing in a nearby field. The chosen landing site featured an upward slope and was located to the right of the aircraft's flight path. While executing the turn to the right to align with the field, the tip of the right wing made contact with the terrain, resulting in severe damage to the aircraft.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the pilot's decision-making process and the aircraft's configuration during the final moments of flight. The pilot confirmed that the decision to land in the field was made less than one minute before the impact. Notably, the pilot did not attempt to engage the engine during the maneuver. This decision was based on the understanding that engaging the engine would require between thirty and sixty seconds to complete, a process that would also reduce the glider's aerodynamic efficiency during the critical turn.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was a late decision to land in a field, leaving insufficient time to execute a safe approach.
- The pilot's evaluation of the aircraft's height was erroneous, leading to the wing strike during the turn.
- The pilot's experience in the northern Alps was limited, having performed only four flights in the region during the year.