What happened
On July 28, 2019, a Schempp Hirth Discus b glider, registration OY-XOL, was involved in a fatal accident during a training flight at Tø/lløse (EKTO). The pilot was undergoing re-training on this specific aircraft type.
During the takeoff roll, the aircraft experienced a brief period where the left wingtip dragged along the ground before the pilot corrected the path. As the glider reached an altitude of approximately 90 to 100 meters, the winch cable snapped. The pilot disconnected from the cable while still climbing. Following the break, the pilot initiated a left turn to perform a short landing pattern north of the runway.
As the aircraft transitioned from the downwind leg to the base leg, the flight altitude remained relatively constant while the airspeed decreased. To avoid overshooting the final approach or potentially hitting a nearby hedgerow, the pilot increased the bank angle. This maneuver caused the left wing to stall, resulting in a left spin. Due to the low altitude, the pilot was unable to recover before the aircraft struck the ground, resulting in one fatality and the destruction of the glider.
The investigation
The investigation examined the sequence of events following the cable break, the pilot's flight path, and the aircraft's performance. Investigators analyzed flight recorder data, including altitude, ground speed, and vertical speed, as well as the aircraft's airspeed and glide angle.
Key areas of focus included the pilot's decision-making following the aborted launch, the stability of the aircraft during the approach, and the aerodynamic conditions leading to the stall. The investigation also looked into the pilot's recent training status and the specific aerodynamic characteristics of the Schempp Hirth Discus b regarding stall speeds and maneuverability.