Kollision zwischen DG 100 und Tornado in der Nähe von Hundseck führt zu Todesfall
Am 23. Juni 1998 ereignete sich in der Nähe von Hundseck, Deutschland, eine Kollision in der Luft zwischen einem Glaser Dirks DG 100 Segelflugzeug und einem Panavia MRCA Tornado Kampfjet. Der Vorfall führte zur Zerstörung des Segelflugzeugs und zum Tod seines Piloten. Der Tornado erlitt schwere Schäden, konnte jedoch sicher auf der Ramstein Air Base landen, wobei die Besatzung unverletzt blieb. Die Kollision ereignete sich, als beide Flugzeuge in einem Luftraum flogen, in dem militärische und zivile Flüge erlaubt waren. Die Untersuchung ergab, dass die Tornado-Besatzung das Segelflugzeug erst zu spät sah, um die Kollision zu vermeiden.
- Local soaring flight: The DG 100G launched from Baden-Baden/Oos at 1326 for a private local soaring flight with other gliders and proceeded to cruise in the local area.
- Shared mixed airspace: Both the glider and the Tornado were operating under VFR in lower-level Class E airspace where slow civilian gliders and fast military jets are permitted simultaneously.
- High-speed Tornado approach: The Tornado crew conducted a low-level tactical training flight following terrain and visual landmarks, entering the Bühlertal area at high speed while searching ahead for the next landmark.
- Late glider detection: The Tornado crew only noticed the glider directly ahead of them immediately before impact, leaving no time or space to avoid a collision.
- Tail and wing destroyed: The Tornado struck the DG 100G from behind, first destroying its tailplane and then its left wing, causing an immediate loss of controllability for the glider.
- Uncontrolled vertical descent: With its empennage and a wing destroyed, the glider entered an almost vertical, uncontrolled descent toward the ground.
- Crash - fatal: The DG 100G impacted nearly vertically in a forested area near Hundseck and was destroyed, fatally injuring the glider pilot.