ASW 19 arrives high and fast off a non-standard circuit
At Montricher the pilot of an ASW 19 was seriously injured and the glider destroyed on landing. Returning high and fast from a short local flight, the pilot flew a height-loss spiral by the threshold and turned base early instead of a normal circuit, arriving too high to stop within the field. Electing to touch down two-thirds along the runway, the pilot dived with full airbrakes but held about 120-140 km/h; a mishandled left slip near the ground brought on diverging longitudinal oscillations, and the tail, wings and nose struck in turn. The causes were an inadequate circuit and approach and an uncontrolled landing from excessive speed.
- Circuit joining: After about 25 minutes of local soaring, the pilot returned to Montricher and joined the downwind leg for runway 03 with excess altitude and speed.
- Abnormal circuit path: Instead of flying a full downwind leg, the pilot spiralled fast near the threshold to lose height, then turned early onto base, arriving almost over the runway 03 threshold still too high.
- High approach speed: Witnesses observed the glider flying at an abnormally high speed, later estimated at about 120–140 km/h on approach, making energy management difficult.
- Steep descent with airbrakes: Too high to land within the airfield limits, the pilot selected a touchdown point about two-thirds down the runway, fully deployed the airbrakes, and pitched down into a very steep descent.
- Low-level slip attempt: Close to the ground, the pilot initiated a left slip and attempted to flare, trying to reduce both excess height and speed just before touchdown.
- Loss of pitch control: Near the ground the glider began several longitudinal oscillations, ending in a very disordered motion in which the tail, wings, and nose struck the ground in succession.
- Crash - serious injury: The glider collided heavily with the runway and was destroyed, and the pilot was seriously injured.