Glider Crash in Austrian Alps Following Possible Mid-Air Impact

Casualties unknown • in den Brandenberger Alpen, Bereich Gratverlauf zwischen Schmalegger Joch und Thaler Joch, Gemeinde Thiersee, Tirol, AT

A glider crashed in the Brandenberger Alps after the pilot reported a possible collision with an object, resulting in severe injuries and total aircraft loss.

What happened

On July 4, 2019, at approximately 13:56 UTC, a glider of the type ASW 19 crashed in the Brandenberger Alps, specifically along the ridge between Schmalegger Joch and Thaler Joch in the municipality of Thiersee, Austria.

The flight began as a return trip from St. Johann in Tirol (LOIJ) to Kempten-Durach (EDMK) in Germany. After being towed to an altitude of approximately 1,250 meters, the pilot released from the tow plane and utilized thermal activity to reach a peak altitude of nearly 3,000 meters. The flight proceeded in a westward direction, gradually descending as the pilot transitioned into a glide.

As the aircraft approached the ridge at an altitude of roughly 1,630 meters, the pilot reported feeling an impact against the right wing, suggesting a possible collision with a bird or a drone. Following this event, the aircraft entered a right-hand spin. The glider's wings struck trees, causing both wings to detach from the fuselage. The impact of the fuselage with the steep terrain was so violent that the pilot was ejected from the cockpit. The pilot sustained severe injuries.

The investigation

The SUB investigation reconstructed the flight path using police records and expert analysis. Investigators examined the aircraft's maintenance history, flight documents, and the wreckage. While the pilot suggested a mid-air collision with an object, investigators could not find physical evidence of such an impact on the wreckage.

Technical examinations of the control surfaces, including pushrods and cables, showed no pre-existing defects; all damage was consistent with the high-energy impact of the crash. The investigation also noted that the search for the pilot was significantly delayed because the aircraft's ELT failed to transmit a signal to the Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC).

Findings

  • The primary cause of the accident was the underspeeding of the minimum flight speed due to sudden changes in wind direction and velocity at the end of the ridge.
  • This loss of airspeed led to a loss of control in flight (LOC-I), resulting in the right-hand spin.
  • The pilot had a very low altitude margin, flying only about 40 to 50 meters above the treetops.
  • The continuous descent during the glide phase, combined with the low altitude, likely increased the pilot's stress levels during the final moments of flight.
  • The lack of an automated distress signal (COSPAS-SARSAT/ELT) delayed the discovery of the wreckage and the subsequent rescue operation.

Probable cause

The aircraft fell below its minimum flying speed due to sudden wind fluctuations at the ridge, leading to a loss of control and a subsequent spin into the terrain.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2019-07-04 ASW 19 accident near in den Brandenberger Alpen, Bereich Gratverlauf zwischen Schmalegger Joch und Thaler Joch, Gemeinde Thiersee, Tirol, AT?

A glider crashed in the Brandenberger Alps after the pilot reported a possible collision with an object, resulting in severe injuries and total aircraft loss.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2019-07-04 involved a ASW 19, at in den Brandenberger Alpen, Bereich Gratverlauf zwischen Schmalegger Joch und Thaler Joch, Gemeinde Thiersee, Tirol, AT.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The aircraft fell below its minimum flying speed due to sudden wind fluctuations at the ridge, leading to a loss of control and a subsequent spin into the terrain.

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