2019 Alexander Schleicher AS-K 13 accident at Braunfels

Overview and Immediate Sequence of Events On 10 November 2019, a two-seat Alexander Schleicher AS-K 13 glider operated by a German gliding club crashed near Braunfels. The aircraft was on a winch-tow launch from runway 07 when the tow cable failed at low altitude. The pilot attempted a shortened circuit, but the glider struck a tree in the final approach turn and impacted the ground. The pilot and passenger were lightly injured, and the aircraft sustained heavy damage. ## Aircraft and Operational Details The AS-K 13, built in 1975, had a factory number of 13515 and 3,575 flight hours at the time of the accident. It was certified for winch launches using a cable with a rated breaking load of 8,240 N to 10,500 N. The winch used was a 1964 Götz cross-tow winch with a 4.2 mm steel cable and a 4.2 mm sheathed lead-in cable. The lead-in cable contained two Tost weak links, each rated at 8,400 N. ## Flight Data and Accident Site Flight data indicated the cable failure occurred at 45.5 m above the runway 07 threshold. The glider entered the final approach turn at 34.0 m, with an average bank angle of 39° and a speed of about 80 km/h. The wreckage was found approximately 120 m southwest of the runway 07 threshold, in a grassy area bordered by trees. The aircraft was found upside down, with the nose pointing toward 275°. ## Investigation Findings The investigation found no technical defects in the glider or control system. The tow cable had broken at the second clamp sleeve of the lead-in cable. The pilot, a 19-year-old student pilot, had 115 hours of glider experience, including 29 hours on the AS-K 13. The passenger was a member of the gliding club. Both occupants were able to free themselves from their harnesses after the crash.