Pégase 101 A student solo — airbrakes left out at tow release, stall on pull-up
A Centrair 101 A Pegase impacted forest about 8 km north of Montricher (LSTR, Switzerland) at roughly 1,095 m AMSL; the student was fatally injured. The student aerotowed on a solo endurance flight with airbrakes deployed during the tow, releasing after passing a thermal. With the airbrakes still extended the glider entered an unusually rapid descent for about two minutes. A pull-up just above treetops triggered a stall at low altitude. Limited experience on type and the failure to stow the airbrakes after release were identified as central to the outcome.
- Student solo endurance flight: Pégase 101 A aerotowed 15:46 from Montricher (LSTR); student-pilot's 3rd flight of the day (1st: ASK 21 control with instructor; 2nd: 1h22 Pégase solo, debriefed).
- First flights on type: Student had 55 h total but only 2 h on the Pégase — all 4 starts on type were the same day.
- Airbrakes deployed during tow: Student used airbrakes to manage tow-rope tension after the combo passed a thermal. High workload with sensitive piloting.
- Airbrakes left out after release: At tow release the airbrakes remained deployed (forgotten or sucked open from unlocked).
- Unusual rapid descent for ~2 min: Glider sank fast with airbrakes out; per SUST analysis, the student likely attributed the sink to external causes (tunnel-vision narrative as the ground approached).
- Pull-up to avoid treetops → stall: Final pull-up before treetops triggered a stall at low altitude.
- Forest impact at 1 095 m AMSL: Crashed in forest 8 km N of Montricher (Mont-la-Ville, VD); student fatally injured; aircraft destroyed.