What happened
On July 26, 2014, a Rolladen Schneider LS4a glider was performing a winch launch from runway 18 at the Sultmer Berg glider field near Northeim, Germany. Immediately after liftoff, the aircraft entered a steep climb and began oscillating around its vertical axis. After reaching an altitude of approximately 50 to 70 meters, the aircraft stalled and rolled over the left wing. The glider struck the ground approximately 40 meters east of the runway centerline, resulting in the destruction of the aircraft and the fatal injury of the pilot.
The investigation
The BFU examined the wreckage and the flight conditions at the time of the accident. The investigation found that the aircraft's cockpit area was severely damaged, with the cockpit having broken away from the wing roots. The right wing had also broken off approximately two meters from the wing tip, with the detached section embedded in the ground. The tailplane support had snapped in the middle, and the elevator control rod was broken.
Investigators reviewed the aircraft's maintenance records, noting that a 3,000-hour inspection had been completed in February 2014 and the airworthiness review was valid until January 2015. The investigation found no evidence of mechanical defects in the aircraft's control systems. Meteorological data from a nearby station indicated favorable flying conditions with visibility over 10 km and light winds.