Accident with a GROB-ASTIR CS (G102) aircraft in Halmstad

Summary in English

The pilot took off by aerotow from runway 06 at Halmstad Airport and released at an altitude of 1,000 metres. The thermal conditions were perceived as weak and, after just over 20 minutes, he returned towards the airport. The pilot entered the high key sector for runway 06 at an altitude (AGL) of 300 metres and descended there, partly using the airbrakes.

He joined the downwind leg at 200 metres and the glider passed abeam the reference point on the runway at 170 metres. The last FLARM data show an altitude of 120 metres on the downwind leg.

The pilot now perceived that his altitude was lower than normal and that the rate of descent was high. He therefore decided to turn early onto the base leg in order to shorten the landing circuit. However, the glider continued to descend more than normal and, during the turn onto a short final, the left wing struck a tree. The glider then rotated to the left and impacted the ground nose‑first in an almost vertical attitude, coming to rest inverted on a grass area. Witnesses called the emergency number 112 and hurried to the scene. The pilot was seriously injured in the accident and the glider sustained substantial damage.

The investigation has shown that the airbrakes were fully extended, probably from an altitude of approximately 170 metres AGL all the way until ground impact. The pilot had low total and recent flight experience, which likely had a negative impact on both his handling of the glider and his situational awareness.

Taken together, these factors resulted in an insufficient altitude during the landing, which led to the glider colliding with trees and subsequently impacting the ground approximately 415 metres before the runway threshold.

Causes of the accident

The accident was caused by the airbrakes being fully extended during a significant part of the final phase of the flight. The pilot did not notice the position of the airbrakes. The altitude became insufficient for a safe landing, and the glider collided with trees and impacted the ground before the runway threshold. A contributing factor was likely the pilot’s low total and recent flight experience.

Safety recommendations

There is no reason to issue any safety recommendations.