What happened
On August 13, 2015, a glider tow operation commenced at the Klix airfield. The pilot of a Robin DR 400/180 R began a takeoff roll to tow a Schleicher ASH 26 E glider. Witnesses observed the takeoff and noted that after both aircraft had lifted off, the glider significantly surpassed the speed of the tug aircraft.
At an altitude of approximately 30 meters, the flight path of the DR 400/180 R began to decline increasingly. The aircraft subsequently banked to the left and struck a field adjacent to the airfield. The impact caused the destruction of the aircraft, including the separation of the engine from the fuselage and the loss of both the nose and main landing gear. The pilot of the tug aircraft sustained serious injuries and was transported to a hospital. The glider pilot, who was uninjured, performed a 180-degree turn and landed safely back at the airfield.
The investigation
The BFU investigation focused on the sequence of events and the condition of the aircraft. Examination of the DR 400/180 R revealed no evidence of mechanical failure or technical malfunction. The investigation also examined the tow rope, which had severed approximately 14 cm behind the glider's release mechanism. Notably, the state of the release mechanism on the tug aircraft indicated that the pilot was attempting to release the rope during the towing process.