ASW 24 crash during thermaling near Gießen Wieseck
On July 21, 2002, an Alexander Schleicher ASW 24 crashed near Gießen Wieseck, Germany. The pilot attempted to find thermals at approximately 200 meters altitude but entered a steep spin after a right turn. Despite recovering from the spin, the aircraft stalled again and impacted the ground at a steep angle, resulting in the pilot's fatal injuries. Weather conditions included strong winds and turbulent thermals, but no technical failures were found in the aircraft. The glider was destroyed in the crash.
- Local thermaling flight: After a winch launch for a local private flight, the pilot returned near the airfield at about 200–250 m altitude and began thermaling with two gliders above him.
- Steep right turn entry: While attempting to join the thermal, the pilot entered a right-hand circle with increasing bank angle, from which the glider abruptly dropped to the right and departed controlled flight.
- Low height and turbulence: The maneuver was flown at low altitude in strong, gusty wind with turbulent, broken thermals that caused significant airspeed fluctuations.
- Steep spin develops: The ASW 24 entered a steep spin to the right, resulting in a rapid loss of height.
- Spin recovery attempt: After about two turns the pilot stopped the spin and, already close to the ground, initiated a pull-out toward the airfield and a line of poplar trees.
- Second stall near trees: The glider was pulled up steeply to regain height to approximately tree-top level, then stalled again at the top of the climb before a spin could redevelop.
- Crash - fatal: The ASW 24 impacted a meadow about 400 m northeast of runway threshold 08 with a 70–80° nose-down attitude, destroying the glider and fatally injuring the pilot.