What happened
On May 31, 2003, a SCHEIBE BERGFALKE III glider was undergoing a winch launch at the La Mancha–Quero aerodrome in Toledo. During the ascent, approximately 300 meters along the runway and at an altitude of 50 meters, the winch engine failed, causing the cable to stop pulling the aircraft. The release mechanism functioned correctly, and the cable automatically detached, leaving the glider free.
At the moment of release, the pilot in the rear seat took control of the aircraft. The pilot attempted to execute a 180-degree turn to land on the runway in the opposite direction of the takeoff. However, after completing the initial 180-degree turn, the pilot realized the aircraft was positioned over the end of the runway, making the intended landing impossible. The pilot then attempted a second 180-degree turn—totaling a 360-degree maneuver—to land in the original takeoff direction. During this second turn, at an altitude of approximately 270 degrees into the maneuver, the aircraft struck the ground 200 meters from the threshold of runway 28. The impact resulted in one serious injury to the occupant in the front seat, while the pilot remained uninjured. The aircraft sustained significant damage to both wings, the nose, the fuselage, and the tail.
The investigation
The CIAIAC examined the winch mechanism and the pilot's decision-making process. Investigators inspected the winch's safety systems and found no anomalies. However, they discovered a cracked paper fuel filter at the carburetor inlet. While the maintenance manual did not explicitly require inspection of this filter, its deterioration likely allowed fuel particles to obstruct the engine's fuel lines, causing the engine to stall.
Additionally, the investigation found that ground personnel were unable to communicate with the crew during the emergency because the handheld radio had been left in a different vehicle. The flight club's emergency procedures for a winch failure below 100 meters of altitude specifically instructed the pilot to deploy air brakes and land in a straight line on the runway or an available extension. The investigation noted that the pilot's decision to attempt a complex turning maneuver deviated from these established safety protocols.