DG-300 Elan incident during landing approach near Einsiedeln, Switzerland
On July 22, 2000, a DG Flugzeugbau DG-300 Elan experienced an incident during the landing approach near Einsiedeln, Switzerland. The pilot, with limited glider experience, was flying under challenging thermal conditions and struggled to maintain altitude. During the landing approach, the aircraft stalled and entered a spin, resulting in a crash landing. The pilot sustained serious injuries, and the glider was heavily damaged. The report highlights the pilot's insufficient speed during the landing turn as a contributing factor.
- Aerotow cross-country: After an aerotow release at about 2300–2400 m over the Alptal, the pilot conducted a cross-country soaring flight in generally weak thermals.
- Weak lift and sink: In the following flight the pilot repeatedly failed to find usable updrafts, steadily lost altitude, and was unable to maintain height in the area.
- Low experience, area: The pilot had limited overall glider experience, no solo outlanding experience, and was unfamiliar with the terrain in the accident area.
- Low altitude near ridge: West of Biberbrugg, at about 200–250 m above ground near the transition to the Höhronen ridge, the glider was observed flying elongated circles at low speed, appearing close to stall.
- Low-speed landing turn: Approaching the selected outlanding field at Altbergried, the pilot flew a right turn from downwind directly toward final at an estimated 100 m above ground with insufficient airspeed in partly gusty conditions.
- Stall and spin entry: During this right landing turn the glider abruptly stalled, dropped over the right wing, and entered a spin or spin-like condition, completing about two rotations.
- Crash - serious injury: After the pilot partially flattened the flight path, the glider impacted the soft moor ground near Altbergried in a nearly horizontal attitude, causing serious injuries to the pilot and heavy damage to the aircraft.