Colisión en el aire entre Astir G102 y Mucha Standard durante la aproximación al aeródromo de Vinon

El 13 de octubre de 1983, un Astir G102 y un Mucha Standard colisionaron en el aire durante su aproximación final al aeródromo de Vinon, Francia. Ambos planeadores descendían en el área designada cuando informaron sus posiciones. El Astir G102, volando un poco más alto, colisionó con el Mucha Standard. El Mucha Standard se estrelló en un viñedo, resultando en heridas leves para su piloto, mientras que el Astir G102 aterrizó con daños mínimos. La colisión se atribuyó a una vigilancia inadecuada del espacio aéreo por parte de ambos pilotos y a una falta de comunicación por radio efectiva.

1. Circuit approach: After training flights, both gliders entered the Vinon altitude-loss area and then joined the landing circuit for runway 25.
2. In-trail circuit entries: HB-635 entered the downwind leg and reported 'vent arrière', followed shortly by F-CEXA entering and reporting downwind behind it, placing the two gliders in close sequence on the same circuit.
3. Limited lookout and comms: Neither pilot announced base leg, both were focused on their own approaches, the Astir pilot had limited experience on type and was concentrating on precise flying, and radio use was not effectively employed despite both aircraft being equipped.
4. Conflict on base-to-final: While HB-635 completed its final turn and aligned on final, F-CEXA flew its base leg between HB-635 and the runway at a slightly higher altitude, creating an unrecognized convergence path.
5. Ineffective radio warning: Seeing the developing conflict, the starter on the ground radioed F-CEXA to ask if it had visual contact with the other glider, but received no reply and neither pilot altered their flight path in time.
6. Mid-air impact: During its final turn to align with the runway, the higher F-CEXA struck HB-635 from above, its wheel breaking the canopy and damaging the right wing while its fin severed HB-635’s fin mid-height.
7. Crash - minor injury: HB-635 became uncontrollable and crashed into a nearby vineyard causing minor injury to its pilot and destruction of the glider, while F-CEXA, with limited tail damage, landed back at Vinon with only minor damage.