What happened
On June 9, 2007, at 14:14, a PIK-20 glider, registration OH-465, was performing an automobile launch takeoff at Haapavesi aerodrome. During the takeoff roll, the aircraft's right wing made contact with the ground, causing the glider to yaw approximately 30 degrees to the right. Although standard procedure dictates aborting the takeoff by releasing the towline in such a situation, the pilot chose to continue the maneuver. During the roll, the pilot increased the flap setting from +4 to +10 degrees in an attempt to increase lift and accelerate the takeoff.
Upon liftoff, the aircraft was in an extremely abnormal attitude, characterized by a heavy right bank and a strong left sideslip, likely due to insufficient airspeed. Immediately after leaving the ground, the glider entered a steep climb and began rolling to the left. This motion transitioned into a barrel-roll-type maneuver, eventually resulting in the aircraft striking the ground inverted at a steep angle approximately 137 meters from the takeoff point. The towline remained attached to the glider until the moment of impact. The impact caused the total destruction of the aircraft's forward and cockpit sections, and the pilot sustained fatal injuries.
The investigation
The investigation established that the automobile launch procedure itself was executed according to pre-briefed routines. Technical examinations confirmed that the PIK-20 and its systems were fully functional prior to the accident. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's flight history, noting that while the pilot was a relatively experienced glider pilot, most of that experience dated back to the period between 1986 and 1996. Following a nine-year hiatus, the pilot had only flown the accident aircraft type twice in 2006. Furthermore, the pilot's recent flight experience involved entirely different types of gliders, which lacked the specific aileron control criticality found in the PIK-20 during takeoff.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the pilot's decision to continue the takeoff after the wing had struck the ground and the aircraft's direction had deviated.
- The takeoff was likely performed at an inadequate airspeed, rendering the aircraft uncontrollable after the initial steep climb.
- The pilot's lack of recent proficiency on this specific aircraft type, following a long flight hiatus, contributed to the failure to prevent the wing strike and the subsequent poor decision-making.
- Contributing factors included wind conditions that likely induced the initial roll during the takeoff run and the pilot's lack of familiarity with the PIKS-20's specific handling characteristics compared to other gliders recently flown.
Safety action
While no formal safety recommendations were issued, the investigation board emphasized the personal responsibility of glider pilots to accurately assess their proficiency on specific aircraft types. The board highlighted the necessity of maintaining high levels of recent experience and the importance of rapid, correct decision-making during critical takeoff phases.