Astir CS77 stalls in low final turn during outlanding
The pilot of a Grob G102 Astir CS77 was fatally injured in a low-altitude loss of control during an outlanding setup; aircraft destroyed. On the return from Husbands Bosworth, weak thermals and cloud spreadout left the glider unable to hold height. After a last thermal down to ~365 m, the pilot tracked southwest over rising ground and set up downwind for a small field at 60–90 m AGL. A sharp left turn onto final at under 60 m AGL developed into an incipient left spin; the glider hit sloping ground nose-down. Probable causes were late field selection and a final turn below safe height, with downdrafts off the escarpment worsening height loss.
- Cross-country in weakening thermals: A Grob Astir was winch-launched from Aston Down for an out-and-return cross-country to Husbands Bosworth, about 110 km northeast, cruising outbound near 1,220 m MSL with thermalling climbs.
- Cloud spreadout reduces lift: Cloud spreadout drifted northeast across the route, reducing solar input and thermal activity; on the return leg the glider could not recover its working height despite further attempts.
- Field selected late at low altitude: After several unsuccessful thermalling attempts down to about 245 m above terrain, the pilot selected a field with only a short diagonal run into wind, with larger fields further off unseen.
- Final turn at under 60 m AGL: The glider turned onto a downwind track at 60-90 m AGL, was seen flying low, probably under 60 m above terrain, then made a sharp left turn onto final below the usual margin.
- Incipient left spin from stall: A localised downdraft off the escarpment may have reduced height further; during the sharp left turn the nose dropped, the path hidden by trees, consistent with an incipient left spin.
- Pilot fatally injured; glider destroyed: The glider struck sloping ground at a high descent rate; the fuselage broke forward of the fin with extensive dislocation. The pilot died in a non-survivable impact; no defect was found.