Accident to the Schempp Hirth Nimbus 4DLM registered D-KXXY on 10/07/2024 at Vars

The pilot, the owner of the glider, undertook a circuit in the Alps, accompanied by a passenger who was an experienced pilot and familiar with flying in mountainous terrain. After a flight time of three hours, including two hours at an altitude of more than 2,500 m and more than one hour at an altitude of more than 3,000 m, the glider collided with the terrain in an area of steep slopes which could have a complex aerology in the conditions of the day.

The recorded flight path seems to show that a right-hand turn towards the valley had been started when the pilot was facing two ridges rising to an altitude that was higher than that of the glider’s. It is probable that control of the glider was lost during this turn. The glider’s low height and proximity with the terrain probably did not allow the pilot to regain control of it.

The investigation was not able to determine who had the controls at the time of the loss of control or the nature of the interactions between the two pilots.