What happened
On July 22, 2000, a DG 300 ELAN glider, registration HB-3005, was conducting a private flight in the Alptal/Einsiedeln region of Switzerland. After being towed to an altitude of approximately 2,400 meters, the pilot found insufficient thermal lift to maintain altitude. As the aircraft's height steadily decreased, the pilot began searching for rising air but was unable to find any suitable conditions.
Unable to reach the original departure airfield, the pilot decided to perform an outlanding in the Altbergried area. While approaching a landing site near Biberbrugg, the pilot attempted a landing pattern by turning from the opposite direction in a right-hand curve, bypassing a base leg. During this maneuver, the aircraft's speed dropped significantly. At an altitude of approximately 100 meters, the glider suddenly stalled and entered a spin-like state, completing roughly two rotations before the pilot could level the flight path. The aircraft struck the soft moorland in a nearly horizontal attitude.
The investigation
The investigation examined the pilot's experience, the aircraft's mechanical condition, and the meteorological environment. The pilot held a valid license but had limited experience with the specific aircraft model and had never performed an outlanding in a glider alone. The aircraft, HB-3005, was found to be in airworthy condition with no mechanical defects contributing to the accident. The weight and balance were within prescribed limits. Meteorological data indicated variable winds and weak, gusty thermal conditions, which contributed to the difficulty in maintaining altitude.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the underspeeding of the aircraft during the landing turn under gusty weather conditions.
- The pilot's lack of experience with outlandings and inadequate terrain knowledge contributed to the difficult situation.
- The pilot's approach tactics were deemed inappropriate for the circumstances.