The pilot of an ASW-20C glider reported that, while following lift under cumulus clouds, he observed another glider, an ASW-27, traversing from right to left.
He entered into a steep dive in an attempt to avoid the other glider, however, the ASW-20C hit the ASW-27 glider.
Following the collision, the ASW-20C entered a steep descent and rolled inverted before the pilot elected to bail out and parachute to safety near Clayton, California.
The ASW-20C pilot added that his glider was equipped with a FLARM collision system, and prior to the collision, did not receive any alerts of additional traffic.
The pilot of the ASW-27 glider reported that the other glider suddenly appeared to his left, followed by a collision. He told investigators that his glider immediately entered a descent and was out of control. He subsequently bailed out and parachuted to safety. His glider was equipped with a FLARM collision system but was inoperative awaiting an annual software update.
The ASW-20C glider sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The ASW-27 glider sustained substantial damage to the left wing and aft fuselage. Both pilots were seriously injured in the mid-air collision.
Probable Cause: The failure of both pilots of each glider to see and avoid one another while maneuvering, which resulted in a mid-air collision.
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This November 2020 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
