Accidente del ASW 24 durante vuelo en térmica cerca de Gießen Wieseck

El 21 de julio de 2002, un Alexander Schleicher ASW 24 se estrelló cerca de Gießen Wieseck, Alemania. El piloto intentó encontrar térmicas a aproximadamente 200 metros de altitud, pero entró en una pérdida de sustentación pronunciada tras un giro a la derecha. A pesar de recuperarse de la pérdida, la aeronave volvió a entrar en pérdida y se impactó contra el suelo en un ángulo pronunciado, resultando en lesiones fatales para el piloto. Las condiciones meteorológicas incluían vientos fuertes y térmicas turbulentas, pero no se encontraron fallos técnicos en el planeador. El planeador fue destruido en el accidente.

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Low height and turbulence: The maneuver was flown at low altitude in strong, gusty wind with turbulent, broken thermals that caused significant airspeed fluctuations.
4. Steep spin develops: The ASW 24 entered a steep spin to the right, resulting in a rapid loss of height.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.