History of the Flight
On July 2, 2022, at approximately 13:00 UTC, a Piper PA-25-235 Pawnee (tug aircraft) was towing a Schleicher Ka 6E glider from the aerodrome of Maubray (EBTY), Belgium. The tug aircraft had been leased from a Dutch company after the aero-club's usual tug became unavailable. The tug pilot had completed familiarization training on the Piper Pawnee at Saint-Hubert (EBSH) and had flown 8 previous aerotows that day, including towing twin-seat gliders and a K-6CR.
Before the flight, the tug pilot checked the rear-view mirror and briefed the glider pilot about the PA-25's higher engine power compared to the usual Robin DR400, emphasizing that airspeeds would be identical but the climb angle would differ. The tug pilot used a checklist derived from the Pilot’s Operating Handbook and training. The glider pilot used the standard 'CRIS' checklist.
During takeoff, the glider lifted off first at three-quarters of the runway, followed by the tug. The glider pilot soon noticed he was flying higher than the tug and attempted to correct by pushing the stick slightly forward, after which he lost sight of the tug and released the tow cable. The tug pilot, having taken off normally, felt a vertical force from the glider on the tail as the aircraft reached the runway end. He reached for the release handle and sensed the glider releasing simultaneously. The tug pilot then realized the aircraft was vertical at about 200 feet, diving toward trees at the runway end. He attempted recovery and managed to level the aircraft before impact.
The tug aircraft struck a corn field, skidded sideways for 20 meters, and came to a stop. The pilot opened the right-hand door and escaped as the aircraft caught fire. The glider pilot turned right after release and returned to the airfield for an uneventful landing.
Injuries and Damage
The tug airplane pilot suffered minor injuries. The glider pilot was uninjured. The tug airplane was totally destroyed by fire. The corn field suffered damage limited to the crash area from the impact and subsequent firefighting operations.
Pilot Information
The tug airplane pilot, aged 31, held an Airline Transport Pilot Licence for aeroplanes (ATPL(A)) with a SEP(Land) rating and a sailplane towing rating issued in August 2020. His total flight time was approximately 5000 hours, with 500 hours as PIC on single-engine piston aircraft and 10 hours on the PA-25 type.
The glider pilot, aged 67, held a Sailplane Pilot Licence (SPL) first issued in 2002, with ratings for winch and aerotow. His total experience was 570 flights (290 hours). In 2022 up to the accident, he had flown 22 flights (7 hours), including 10 hours on the Ka 6E. He had not flown a Piper Pawnee tug before; his only previous flight with the Ka 6E in 2022 was in June.
Aircraft Information
The Piper PA-25-235 Pawnee (registration UK-registered, operated by a Dutch company) is an agricultural aircraft adapted for glider towing. It was equipped with a rear-view mirror. The aircraft had a Certificate of Airworthiness issued by the UK CAA in April 2008 and an Airworthiness Review Certificate renewed in May 2022. The Schleicher Ka 6E glider was undamaged.
Findings
The investigation did not identify a single probable cause but noted operational and human factors, including the glider pilot's unfamiliarity with the tug-glider combination and the absence of a standardized briefing for the specific pairing.