Glider crash in Wetzlar, Germany.

[Tartiflette Fan]

On Sunday May 28th at 14:20 a glider crashed on the roof of a house in Wetzlar, ( 100 km E of Bonn ) killing the 57 year-old pilot, but with no injuries to any other persons. First investigations indicate that flying conditions were very difficult on that day.

[Prop swinger]

The ASN page (https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/313921) for the accident has a link to an ADS-B screenshot (https://globe.adsbexchange.com/?icao=d00d85&lat=50.568&lon=8.501&zoom=14.6&showTrace=2023-05-28&trackLabels) showing an attempt to get back to the airfield from downwind.

[sablatnic]

The ASN page (https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/313921) for the accident has a link to an ADS-B screenshot (https://globe.adsbexchange.com/?icao=d00d85&lat=50.568&lon=8.501&zoom=14.6&showTrace=2023-05-28&trackLabels) showing an attempt to get back to the airfield from downwind.

Looks weird if that last speed and altitude is correct. Speed between 50 and 60 kts, and then suddenly one at 108 - and the glider looks quite banged up too. . Could it be something health related, stroke or heat stroke? (This is after all a rumour network).

[ATC Watcher]

Was glider flying that day not that far . , and there were 20-25 Kts winds from the East, ( still like today) so mandating the use of that runway which I guess is not the prefered one since it overflies the village.
Looking at the ADS-B , I would not take the last read out as doubtful , 108 Kts with is a 50Kts variation with the previous returns., the glider was FLARM / LX equipped so I am sure the BFU will be able to easily find the SD card to dowload the exact parameters.
if real it could be a bird collision, there are a lot of falcons and milans hunting at the moment , but that said, rarely above villages and cities..
Another option could be stalling and mishandling the recovery, , but he had good speed ( 50tkts s G/S with 20 Kts headwind) and altitude , as the runway is only 750 ft AMSL. Maybe a medical issue but doubtbul.. Anyway full of media attention here, a glider falling in the streets and injuring people , not good for the glider community..:(

[WideScreen]

Losing 70 ft/s on altitude looks a lot to me for a glider. The 126 Kts speed might be matching with that. Indeed, a medical issue could certainly be a reason. The destruction of the glider could match the 126 Kts ground speed and the roughly 4000 ft/s vertical speed.