What happened
On May 30, 2020, a Scheibe Flugzeugbau Zugvogel III A glider was involved in a fatal accident during a takeoff from the Günzburg-Donauried airfield. The flight was a glider tow operation, with a Tecnam P 92 S ultralight aircraft acting as the tug.
During the initial phase of the takeoff, the glider pilot released the tow rope at an altitude of approximately 20 to 30 meters. Immediately following the release, the glider entered an uncontrolled flight attitude, pitching up into a climb before banking left and rolling onto its back. The aircraft then impacted the ground nearly vertically. The pilot sustained fatal injuries at the scene, and the aircraft was destroyed.
The investigation
The BFU investigation examined the aircraft's maintenance and pre-flight procedures. The glider had been reassembled on May 29, 2020, by the pilot and two assistants. During this process, the horizontal stabilizer was mounted to the fuselage, but it was not connected to the control system.
On the day of the accident, a witness assisted the pilot with a pre-flight control check. This check included moving the ailerons, spoilers, rudder, and trim tab. The witness reported that no abnormalities were observed during this procedure. The investigation also reviewed the aircraft's flight logs, maintenance history, and the pilot's experience.