What happened
On the afternoon of October 13, 2012, a Schleicher ASW19 glider, registration D-7565, departed from Vinon aerodrome for a local flight. During the flight, the pilot joined another glider utilizing a thermal over the village of Sainte-Tulle. At approximately 15:45, the two aircraft departed the thermal at an altitude of roughly 1,350 meters and began flying in different directions.
Witnesses observed the glider enter a significant bank followed by a steep dive. The aircraft's pitch leveled off slightly as it approached the ground, but it ultimately struck trees at high speed near Pierrevert. The impact resulted in the death of the pilot and the total destruction of the aircraft.
The investigation
Technical examinations of the wreckage revealed no mechanical malfunctions that contributed to the accident. Investigators confirmed that the air brakes and landing gear were retracted at the time of impact. While the specific position of the elevator trim could not be determined, the damage to the fuselage and right wing suggested the glider was in a slight right bank with a slight nose-down pitch during the collision.
Due to the extent of the damage to the onboard computers, no flight data could be recovered. Medical and toxicological examinations of the pilot showed no signs of illness or the presence of drugs or alcohol. However, the nature of the injuries suggested a lack of impact anticipation, potentially due to sudden surprise or incapacitation.
Findings
- The investigation could not establish a definitive cause for the accident.
- The pilot, who had 451 total flight hours, was wearing a parachute, but it was not deployed.
- The cause of the loss of control remains undetermined.