What happened
At approximately 1445 Atlantic daylight time, a pilot was preparing for a winch-assisted takeoff at Stanley Airport, Nova Scotia. The aircraft, an amateur-built Schreder HP 18 with registration C-GSTL, was positioned on the grass near Runway 02. Wind conditions were light, coming from the northwest at about four knots.
Upon receiving the signal to launch, the winch was activated. The glider completed a standard ground roll and transitioned into flight. However, shortly after takeoff, the aircraft entered an extremely steep climb, reaching an angle of approximately 45 degrees and ascending to roughly 100 feet above the ground. Following this ascent, the glider rolled to the right and pitched nose-down, performing one or two rolls before striking the runway in a left-wing-low, nose-down attitude. The impact resulted in one fatality and the total destruction of the glider.
The investigation
Investigators examined the aircraft's mechanical condition and the pilot's recent flight history. The post-crash inspection of the Schreder HP 18 showed no evidence of structural failure or mechanical deficiencies in the flight controls or airframe prior to the impact. The winch operation was also found to be functioning normally, and the launch speed was consistent with a previous flight conducted earlier that day.
Regarding the pilot's safety equipment, investigators noted that the shoulder harness straps of the five-point system were not secured to the latch mechanism. While the lap belt attachments were torn from the fuselage, the severity of the crash breakup suggested that the unattached shoulder straps likely would not have mitigated the injuries sustained.
Investigators also considered whether the pilot's position in the cockpit shifted during the launch. Although the pilot's lack of shoulder restraint was noted, the specific seat design of the HP 18 is intended to limit rearward movement, making a shift in the pilot's position an unlikely cause for the flight path change.
Findings
- The aircraft entered a steep climb shortly after takeoff, which led to a wing stall due to an excessive angle of attack.
- There was insufficient altitude available for the pilot to recover the aircraft once the stall and roll occurred.
- The pilot had previously experienced a steeper-than-normal climb in this specific aircraft, which had been addressed in prior debriefings.