What happened
On April 12, 2015, a Scheibe L-Spatz 55 glider was being operated at the Oschatz glider airfield (EDOQ) in Germany. Following two successful winch launches by the aircraft owner earlier that day, a second pilot attempted a launch at 14:21 local time. The aircraft departed on a heading of 245° using a winch launch method.
During the initial takeoff roll, the right wingtip dipped and made contact with the ground. This contact caused the aircraft to veer to the right while simultaneously pitching up. The glider lifted to an altitude of approximately 10 meters, but the bank angle increased sharply into a knife-edge attitude. The aircraft then traveled approximately 42 meters from the takeoff point, where the right wingtip struck the ground again. This resulted in a violent right-hand turn, causing the nose of the fuselage to impact the ground. The aircraft was destroyed, and the pilot sustained fatal injuries, later succumbing to them at a hospital.
The investigation
The BFU examined the wreckage and the circumstances of the takeoff. The investigation confirmed that the aircraft, a 1958 model, was operating within its weight limits, with a takeoff mass of 260 kg against a maximum of 265 kg, and the center of gravity was within the permissible range. The wreckage was scattered over an area of 20 meters by 6 meters, with the right wing broken in the middle, the cockpit area crushed, and the rear fuselage separated from the wings.
Investigators also reviewed the pilot's medical and flight history. The 66-year-old pilot held a valid glider pilot license and a current Class 2 medical certificate. He had 954 hours of flight experience on gliders. An autopsy of the pilot revealed no evidence of impaired physical or mental capability at the time of the launch.
Findings
- The investigation found no evidence of technical defects in the aircraft or its control linkages.
- Meteorological conditions were favorable, with visibility exceeding 10 km, a cloud base above 5,000 ft, and light winds of 4 knots.
- The accident was characterized by a sudden wingtip strike during the takeoff roll, leading to an uncontrollable roll and subsequent impact.