What happened
The accident occurred during the initial phase of a glider flight involving an aerotow operation. The primary factor leading to the incident was the failure of the glider pilot to retract the speed brakes prior to commencing the takeoff roll. Because the speed brakes remained extended, the aerodynamic drag significantly increased, preventing the tow aircraft from achieving the necessary altitude and airspeed required for a safe release.
As a result of this excessive drag, the tow pilot was unable to gain sufficient height. The tow pilot was forced to release the glider at an abnormally low altitude. Immediately following the release, the glider pilot retracted the speed brakes; however, the aircraft did not have enough remaining altitude to establish a positive climb gradient.
With insufficient height to maneuver or regain lift, the glider pilot initiated a forced landing. During this descent, the glider struck a pole, resulting in damage to the aircraft. The glider pilot had accumulated a total of 26 hours of flight time in gliders at the time of the accident.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the operational sequence of the takeoff and the configuration of the aircraft controls. Examination of the circumstances revealed that the speed brakes were indeed extended during the critical takeoff phase. The tow pilot's inability to attain safe flight parameters was directly linked to this configuration error.