What happened
On July 2, 2020, at approximately 11:06 UTC, a Rolladen-Schneider LS 4 glider was involved in an accident in the Mürzstraße area, near the municipality of Schaldorf, Styria. The flight began at approximately 10:33 UTC when the pilot departed from Lanzen-Turnau airfield via aero-tow. The initial intent of the flight was to conduct a sightseeing tour of the Mürztal valley with other glider pilots.
After releasing from the tow plane, the glider climbed to an altitude of approximately 1,785 meters MSL near Pogusch. However, while searching for thermals south of a local ridge, the aircraft entered a nearly continuous descent. As the altitude decreased, the pilot attempted to execute an outlanding on a meadow. While performing a left-hand turn to align with the landing site near several private residences, the left wingtip (winglet) made contact with the ground. This impact caused the aircraft to crash from a low altitude, resulting in the destruction of the Rolladen-Schneider LS 4 and causing serious injuries to the pilot.
The investigation
The Austrian Federal Safety Investigation Board (SUB) reconstructed the flight sequence using witness statements, police reports, and data from the aircraft's onboard flight computer. Investigators examined the aircraft's condition, noting that the cockpit instruments and flight computer remained intact and functional after the impact. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's flight preparation and the meteorological conditions at the time of the accident.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the contact between the left wingtip and the ground during a low-altitude turn for an outlanding.
- The pilot utilized an unfavorable flight tactic during the descent.
- The decision to attempt an outlanding was made too late, at an insufficient altitude above the ground.
- The turn required for the landing maneuver was initiated at too low an altitude to safely clear the terrain.