What happened
On July 9, 2011, at approximately 17:27 UTC, a Schempp-Hirth Arcus T motor glider was conducting a cross-country flight starting from Feldkirchen/Ossiacher See (LOKF). The flight path included several landmarks in Austria and South Tyrol, with a planned return to the departure airfield.
During the flight, the aircraft began losing altitude southeast of Hollerberg. In an attempt to maintain altitude, the pilot deployed the retractable engine and started the Solo 2350 D engine at approximately 1,650 m MSL. However, due to gusty and unfavorable sink conditions, the pilot determined that reaching the intended landing field at Mauterndorf (LOSM) was no longer safe. Consequently, the pilot decided to perform an outlanding at the Lungau/Katschberg golf course.
Approaching the golf course, the pilot encountered strong westerly valley winds at approximately 200 m AGL. The pilot executed the landing with the engine shut down, though the propeller remained extended. During the landing, the pilot flared the aircraft at approximately 1 m above the ground, resulting in a hard touchdown. The main landing gear sank into the soft turf, causing the aircraft to skid approximately 50 meters and veer 120 degrees to the left. The impact caused the fuselage to break behind the engine mount and the horizontal stabilizer to strike the canopy.
There were no injuries to the pilot or the passenger.
The investigation
The SUB investigation reconstructed the flight sequence using pilot statements and official records. The investigation examined the aircraft's structural damage, which was extensive, including a broken fuselage, damaged stabilizers, and a destroyed canopy. The investigators also analyzed the meteorological conditions, noting that the weather was the primary driver for the forced landing, and reviewed the pilot's flight experience on this specific aircraft type.