What happened
On July 24, 2014, at approximately 12:15 UTC, a single-seat ASW 19 glider departed from Leoben/Timmersdorf airfield for a VFR flight. After roughly two hours of flight time, the pilot initiated the final approach to runway 12. During the approach, the aircraft's speed increased significantly, reaching approximately 154 km/h after the base leg, which far exceeded the manufacturer's recommended landing speed of 85 km/h.
During the descent, the airfield manager observed the pilot repeatedly extending and retracting the landing gear. The pilot failed to respond to a radio inquiry regarding this unusual activity. The glider failed to land on the grass runway, instead overshooting the strip and coming to rest in an adjacent strawberry field. The nose of the aircraft struck the ground heavily, causing the fuselage to break near the cockpit and the aircraft to rotate 270 degrees on its vertical axis. The pilot sustained minor injuries but was able to exit the aircraft independently.
The investigation
The SUB investigation reconstructed the flight path using the pilot's statements, eyewitness accounts, and data retrieved from the aircraft's FLARM device. The investigation focused on the cockpit controls, specifically the distinction between the landing gear lever and the spoiler (airbrake) lever. The investigation also examined the aircraft's maintenance records, the pilot's medical and flight experience, and the prevailing meteorological conditions.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the confusion between the landing gear lever and the spoiler lever.
- Although the two levers are differentiated by color coding (black for gear, blue for spoilers), labeling, position, and locking mechanisms, the pilot mistakenly operated the gear lever.
- This error prevented the pilot from effectively managing the aircraft's glide path and airspeed, leading to an excessive landing speed.
- The aircraft's weight and balance were within limits, and no mechanical failures or adverse weather conditions contributed to the accident.