What happened
On September 18, 2004, at approximately 16:45, a Wassmer WA 26 P glider, registration F-CDXV, was engaged in a local flight near Itxassually, France. The pilot departed from the Itxassou airfield and was towed to the western slope of Artzamendi, releasing from the tow rope at an altitude of 650 meters. After approximately ten minutes of flight, the pilot found no further lift and decided to return to the departure airfield.
During the flight, the pilot encountered another glider near the Ezcondray peak and spent about an hour maneuvering between the Mondarrain and Ezcondray peaks, utilizing intermittent thermal lift. However, as the flight progressed, wind drifted the aircraft toward the western plateau of the Mondarrain peak. The pilot, attempting to maintain a low altitude, initiated a right-hand turn at a speed of 80 km/h while approximately 30 meters above the ground. During this maneuver, the pilot was unable to maintain altitude, causing the right wing and the nose of the aircraft to strike the terrain. The glider slid approximately 15 meters across the grass before coming to a halt. The aircraft sustained heavy damage.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the flight conditions and the pilot's decision-making regarding terrain clearance. Investigators reviewed the pilot's experience, noting he had 552 total flight hours, with 172 hours on this specific type, though he had only flown five hours in the three months preceding the accident. Meteorological conditions at the time were reported as CAVOK with light winds and low turbulence. The investigation also examined the pilot's familiarity with the terrain, noting his background in paragliding, which influenced his comfort level with flying near steep slopes.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was a loss of control near terrain resulting from the pilot's decision to fly at a very low altitude.
- An excess of confidence regarding terrain clearance, likely influenced by the pilot's experience in paragliding, led to the decision to maneuver close to the ground.
- The pilot was unable to maintain sufficient altitude during a right-hand turn at 80 km/h, which is close to the aircraft's stall speed of 68 km/h in a clean configuration.
- The pilot had sufficient altitude at the time of the loss of control to have safely returned to the Itxassou airfield.