Accidente de Grob G 109 B cerca de Kirchzarten resulta en dos muertes
El 17 de junio de 2000, un planeador motorizado Grob G 109 B se estrelló en una zona boscosa cerca de Kirchzarten, Alemania. La aeronave, que transportaba a dos personas, había partido de Schweighofen y se dirigía a Constanza cuando encontró dificultades. Testigos informaron haber escuchado el ruido del motor seguido de un choque. Ambos ocupantes resultaron fatalmente heridos y la aeronave fue destruida. La investigación no encontró fallos técnicos en la aeronave, y las condiciones meteorológicas eran adecuadas para el vuelo visual.
- En-route cruise: The self-launched motor glider departed Schweighofen, made an intermediate landing at Freiburg, then departed again toward Konstanz and was cruising into the Black Forest area.
- Unfamiliar mountainous area: The pilot, with low total and type experience, was flying his first flight in the mountainous Black Forest region, whose terrain characteristics were unfamiliar to him.
- Insufficient climb performance use: Although the aircraft was capable of climbing sufficiently to clear the terrain, the pilot did not achieve or maintain enough height over the rising ground along the chosen route.
- Terrain misjudged: Approaching the end of a steep valley, the pilot misjudged distance, height, and speed relative to the rapidly rising terrain and continued toward a ridge that could no longer be safely overflown.
- Late pull-up attempt: Instead of turning back in time, the pilot attempted to outclimb the terrain by pulling back on the control stick while already too low over the steeply rising ground.
- Stall and right roll: The excessive pitch-up caused the airspeed to drop below stall speed, the motor glider stalled, rolled off to the right, and descended uncontrollably into the forested slope.
- Crash - fatal: The aircraft impacted the forested terrain about 700–800 m before and roughly 100 m below the ridge crest, was destroyed, and both occupants were fatally injured.