What happened
On June 16, 2019, a Schempp-Hirth Ventus-3T glider was being aero-towed from the Hahnweide airfield for a local thermal flight. The flight was part of a series of operations involving factory aircraft from the manufacturer. At an altitude of approximately 580 meters, the glider pilot released the tow rope.
According to the tow pilot, the release process was unusual; he felt a significant rightward pull on the tail of the tow aircraft before the release was confirmed. The tow pilot attempted to contact the glider pilot via radio to confirm the release, but received no response.
Following the release, witnesses observed the glider entering a right-hand turn that rapidly transitioned into a steep dive. The aircraft maintained this descent for several hundred meters. Witnesses noted an abrupt attempt at a recovery maneuver just before the aircraft reached the treetops, during which the wings flexed upward so severely that structural failure was feared. However, the aircraft did not break apart in mid-air. The glider entered a series of steep dives before impacting the forest floor at a nearly vertical angle. The impact destroyed the aircraft and caused the fatal injuries of the pilot.
The investigation
The BFU examined the wreckage at the site, located in a wooded area near Beuren. The investigation included a technical analysis of all components and control surfaces, conducted with the support of the manufacturer. GPS data from a device carried on board was used to reconstruct the flight path, confirming a rapid descent following the release of the tow rope.
The investigation also included a medical autopsy of the pilot, which found no underlying health issues that would have contributed to the accident. Technical inspections of the Schempp-Hirth Ventus-3T revealed no mechanical defects or malfunctions in the aircraft's systems or controls.