Collision with signpost on final, Rolladen-Schneider LS 4-b, PH-1392, Volkel Air Base
Due to work on the system of runways at the air base, the gliding club was not using its usual section of grass runway for its take-off location and the target landing field. During final approach, the pilot of the glider made a mistake in estimating the location of the target landing field. As a result, the final approach was low, and the left wing of the glider collided with a signpost marker stood in high grass. The pilot had failed to observe the signpost during the final approach. The aircraft suffered damage to the left wing. The pilot was unharmed. The gliding club involved investigated the accident, and shared the results of its investigation with the Dutch Safety Board.
Flying on ‘automatic’, the pilot had aimed for the taxiway positioned at right angles to the final approach leg, as he would ordinarily have done in the normal situation. This taxiway is located further ahead of the landing field that was in use due to the work on the airfield. As a result, the pilot made a low final approach.
This accident can be found in the quarterly aviation report over the 4th quarter of 2021.
