What happened
On May 23, 2011, a Schleicher ASW20FL glider, registration F-CFLK, was conducting a soaring circuit departing from Auch. While flying near Vic-Fezensac, the pilot encountered irregular thermals and began losing altitude. At approximately 300 meters, the pilot decided to perform a field landing in a nearby meadow.
During the reconnaissance passes, the pilot identified a fence perpendicular to the intended landing path and adjusted the touchdown point accordingly. After deploying landing flaps, the aircraft's indicated airspeed decreased from 120 km/h to 95 km/h. Upon touchdown of the main gear, the glider encountered uneven ground consisting of a depression followed by a bump. This caused the aircraft to briefly lift off the ground before pitching forward, resulting in the nose striking the earth. The impact shattered the canopy and caused a crack in the fuselage side.
The investigation
The investigation examined GPS data, which showed the downwind leg began at roughly 100 meters altitude, followed by a continuous turn and a final approach. The final approach lasted approximately 15 seconds, heading west with a ground speed of about 120 km/h before slowing significantly near the end.
Investigators assessed the landing site, a field in the Osse valley, noting its north-south orientation and slight upward slope. The pilot, a retired professional pilot who had returned to glider flying in November 2010, had accumulated approximately 50 flight hours since his return, including roughly 10 landings in this specific aircraft type.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the failure to detect ground irregularities during the reconnaissance flight.
- The pilot's decision to adjust the landing path to avoid a fence may have contributed to an approach pattern that was difficult to stabilize.