Accident to the Schempp Hirth Discus 2 registered F-CIGB on 31/07/2023 at Archigny
Off-airfield emergency landing during a competition flight
This is a courtesy translation by the BEA of the Final Report on the Safety Investigation. As accurate as the translation may be, the original text in French is the work of reference.
Note: the following information is principally based on the pilot’s statement. This information has not been independently validated by the BEA.
1. History of the flight
The pilot carried out a towed take-off from Chauvigny aerodrome (Vienne) in order to participate in the second round of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine - Centre-Val de Loire inter-regional gliding championship.
On exiting the first sector, he explained that the weather conditions seemed to him to be less favourable. He carried out a U-turn and headed towards the departure aerodrome.
A headwind of approximately 50 km/h degraded the operating conditions of the FES[1]. At around 15 km from Chauvigny aerodrome, as the battery charge had become too low, he decided to carry out an emergency landing in a harvested field.
After extending the landing gear and shutting down the electric motor, the pilot carried out a U approach. The pilot indicated that the downwind leg was too low and affected by strong winds.
During the attempted landing, the pilot did not manage to flare. The glider came into hard contact with the ground, slid and came to a halt. The fuselage broke into two.
2. Additional information
2.1. Meteorological information
The meteorological conditions estimated by the French met office, Météo-France, at the time of the accident were as follows:
mean wind west-south-west of 15 kt with gusts of 25 kt;
visibility greater than 10 km;
scattered cumulus at 4,000 ft and scattered altocumulus at 10,000 ft;
temperature 25°C;
QNH 1014 hPa.
2.2. Pilot information
The 80-year-old pilot and owner of the glider held a sailplane pilot licence obtained on 29 May 1997, a sailplane instructor rating obtained on 25 May 2021 and a valid class 2 medical fitness certificate with the VML limitation[2]. At the time of the accident, he had logged 2,800 glider flight hours including 354 hours on type and 45 hours in the previous three months, all on this glider.
April 2024
[1] Front Electric Sustainer: propulsion system which uses an electric motor powered by batteries and a folding propeller, located in the nose of the glider.
[2] Requirement to wear suitable optical correction in flight to correct defective distant, intermediate and near vision. Implies carrying a pair of spare glasses in the cockpit.