Collision en vol entre Astir G102 et Mucha Standard lors de l'approche à l'aérodrome de Vinon

Le 13 octobre 1983, un Astir G102 et un Mucha Standard sont entrés en collision en vol lors de leur approche finale à l'aérodrome de Vinon, en France. Les deux planeurs descendaient dans la zone désignée lorsqu'ils ont signalé leurs positions. L'Astir G102, volant légèrement plus haut, est entré en collision avec le Mucha Standard. Le Mucha Standard s'est écrasé dans un vignoble, entraînant des blessures mineures pour son pilote, tandis que l'Astir G102 a atterri avec des dommages minimes. La collision a été attribuée à une surveillance inadéquate de l'espace aérien par les deux pilotes et à un manque de communication radio efficace.

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.