Accidente de un Grob G103 A cerca de Eßlingen durante un vuelo de entrenamiento en solitario

El 5 de octubre de 1997, un Grob G103 A se estrelló cerca de Eßlingen, Alemania, durante un vuelo de entrenamiento en solitario. El planeador entró en una posición de vuelo incontrolada durante la aproximación final, resultando en un accidente fatal en una zona boscosa. La aeronave quedó completamente destruida, y el piloto, un estudiante con experiencia limitada en el G103, resultó fatalmente herido. Las investigaciones no encontraron problemas técnicos con la aeronave, y las condiciones meteorológicas eran favorables. El informe sugirió una posible pérdida de sustentación como causa, pero no se pudo descartar completamente un problema de salud del piloto.

1. Winch launch circuit: During a solo training flight after an uneventful winch launch to about 250–300 m, the student flew a left-hand circuit and then positioned for a right-hand landing circuit to runway 13.
2. Low type experience: The student pilot had limited solo experience overall and less than 30 minutes solo time on the Grob G103 type.
3. Final approach mismanaged: On final approach to runway 13, the airbrakes were not deployed and the glider was observed to raise its nose and begin a slight right turn.
4. No corrective input: Despite the instructor on the ground transmitting a radio command to push the nose down, the student made no observable corrective control input.
5. Stall and loss of control: The glider exceeded its critical angle of attack, stalled with right wing drop, disappeared behind trees, then briefly reappeared about 20 m above ground still in an over‑stalled attitude before pitching down again.
6. Crash - fatal: The glider struck trees, lost the left wing, impacted the ground initially in inverted attitude in a wooded area near Eßlingen, and came to rest destroyed, fatally injuring the pilot.