What happened
On May 21, 2014, at 13:25 LMT, a glider instructor was conducting a technical test flight of an SZD-36 Cobra 15 at Toruń Airport (EPTO). The takeoff was performed via aero-tow from an aircraft on a heading of 280°, experiencing a crosswind from the left.
During the takeoff roll, the left wing of the glider was caught by the grass. This caused the glider to deviate from its course by approximately 30° relative to the towing aircraft. The glider lifted off the ground at an altitude of only 1 to 1.5 meters. The pilot released the towline, and the glider subsequently landed on a traverse. The impact resulted in a ground loop, which caused the tail section of the aircraft to break off.
The investigation
The PKBWL investigation focused on the sequence of events during the takeoff roll and the environmental conditions at the airfield. The investigation examined the aircraft's position during the initial phase of the tow and the state of the runway surface.