What happened
On June 24, 2000, at approximately 13:30, a Glasflügel H201B Standard Libelle glider, registration I-DLEA, was involved in a fatal accident near Canjuers, France. The flight was part of a local circuit pattern. After being towed for seven minutes, the pilot released from the tow aircraft at an altitude of 1,100 meters. The tow pilot observed the glider banking left toward a slope. Following release, the glider remained airborne for less than fifteen minutes before striking the summit of the Seillans terrain. The wreckage was located by a passing pilot, and the impact site showed very little debris dispersion.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the flight path and the meteorological conditions at the time of the accident. Witnesses in the area reported experiencing significant but irregular and difficult-to-center thermals. Meteorological analysis at the crash site indicated a convergence between a 10-knot east-southeast sea breeze and a westerly flow, which generated strong turbulence. Examination of the wreckage indicated that the glider struck the terrain at a relatively high speed while performing a right-hand turn near the summit.
Findings
- The pilot was attempting to utilize rising air currents near the southeast slope of the Seillans terrain.
- The aircraft was operating in an atmosphere characterized by heavy turbulence.
- The pilot performed a right-hand turn very close to the terrain summit.
- The investigation concluded that the pilot likely executed this turn at a speed that was too low for the maneuver.
- This low airspeed, combined with the intense turbulence, likely triggered an incipient spin or loss of control, leading to the collision with the terrain.
This accident resulted in one fatality and the total destruction of the aircraft.