Ventus 2C loss of control on final — pilot incapacitation in heatwave

A Ventus 2C dived near-vertically into a maize field ~500 m short of Issoire - Le Broc RWY 36; the pilot was fatally injured. A heatwave brought 36°C; the cockpit was unconditioned and poorly ventilated, conditions likely to trigger malaise. On tow the glider could not track behind the tug; the pilot released at 350 m and returned for landing with no radio response. The circuit showed large pitch and altitude variations, a wide final, and a high approach. After airbrakes were deployed on the ground-manager's call, the glider pitched abruptly nose-down. BEA cited pilot incapacitation with an undetected cardiac pathology in heatwave conditions.

1. Aerotow departure in heatwave: Aerotow takeoff from runway 36R at Issoire - Le Broc at 15:16 local. Day's heatwave: 36°C surface temperature, NE wind 5 kt, CAVOK. Pilot 73 yo, SPL since 2015, ~1,460 h total (32 in last 3 months), class 2 medical valid (corrective lenses).
2. Cockpit unconditioned: The Ventus 2C cockpit has no air conditioning and is not sealed; ventilation is via a small lateral window. After closing the canopy the pilot was exposed to the heatwave's full ambient temperature, with the BEA noting this configuration could drastically increase cardiovascular load and dehydration.
3. Undetected cardiac pathology: Per autopsy: previously undetected advanced cardiac pathology consistent with risk of in-flight malaise. Toxicology negative. The pilot's spouse reported no ongoing medical treatment. Class 2 medical was current; no cardiac antecedents had been declared. BEA safety lesson: cardiac pathology can be latent and may not be detected by routine class 2 medicals absent declared antecedents.
4. Pilot unable to track behind tug: The towpilot observed the glider unable to maintain proper position behind the tug — initially attributed to thermals. The glider was low and off-axis during the climb. About to call the glider pilot, the towpilot heard the pilot announce cable release on the radio.
5. Early cable release at 350 m: After ~2:30 of tow, the pilot released the cable at 350 m (typical release at Issoire is ~600 m) and turned for the downwind. The towpilot radioed twice asking if there was a problem; no reply. The pilot made no position calls in the circuit.
6. Unstable circuit and final: Witnesses observed large pitch and altitude variations throughout the circuit. The final turn was wide and overshot the runway axis; the glider was on a high approach. The ground manager radioed the pilot to deploy airbrakes; the airbrakes came out as instructed, but the pitch attitude continued oscillating.
7. Abrupt nose-down pitch on final: On short final, a few hundred meters before the runway threshold, the pitch suddenly dropped and the glider descended near-vertically into a maize field. Wreckage analysis: control rod ruptures consistent with ground impact, not pre-impact failure.
8. Near-vertical impact, fatal: Near-vertical ground impact in a maize field ~500 m short of RWY 36 threshold; aircraft destroyed (forward cell heavily damaged, fuselage broken at wing trailing edge, tail broken at fin root). Pilot fatally injured. BEA scenario: heat + confined cockpit likely triggered a malaise; pilot probably realised he could not continue, anticipated the cable release to return to land quickly, but pilot performance degraded into loss of control.