What happened
On April 6, 2011, an Orlican A.S. Discus CS glider, registration HB-3181, was engaged in a cross-country flight starting from San Vittore. After reaching high altitudes over the Alps, the pilot turned back toward the west. During the return leg, the aircraft experienced a steady loss of altitude while flying north along Lake Como.
As the glider passed near Monte Brè, its altitude had dropped to below 600 meters. The pilot performed several turns over populated areas before attempting an outlanding at the Ressiga shooting range. During the final approach, the right wingtip struck a concrete wall, causing the wing to break off. The nose of the aircraft subsequently struck the ground, and the fuselage collided with a stack of wood, resulting in the destruction of the aircraft. The pilot sustained serious injuries.
The investigation
SUST examined flight data from the onboard recorder and analyzed meteorological conditions. The investigation established that the aircraft was airworthy, with its weight and center of gravity within permissible limits. No technical malfunctions were identified as contributing to the crash.
Investigators noted that while the pilot was flying at a low altitude, there were viable landing options available, such as the Lake Lugano area. The investigation also reviewed the terrain at the landing site, noting that the shooting range field was constrained by obstacles, including trees, a water pond, and several large cranes. The final approach required a significant heading correction to avoid these cranes, which prevented the pilot from maintaining the ideal minimum approach speed.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the collision of the glider with an obstacle during the approach to a forced landing site.
- A contributing factor was the pilot's failure to select a safer flight path or identify an alternative landing option that would have ensured greater safety.
- The necessity of a sharp course correction to avoid cranes at the landing site made a stable, low-speed approach impossible.