What happened
On June 5, 2021, at approximately 12:15 PM, a SZD-50-3 „Puchacz“ glider was performing a winch launch from the Friedersdorf airfield. The aircraft was occupied by a flight instructor and a 15-year-old student, for whom this was the very first training launch.
Immediately after liftoff, the aircraft entered a steep climb with an excessively high angle of attack. During the takeoff roll, the nose wheel had struck a small mound of grass, an event that caused the student to pull the control column fully backward and lock it in position. As the aircraft climbed, the tension on the tow rope increased significantly, and at an altitude of approximately 45 meters, the rope released from the glider's towing coupling.
Following the release, the aircraft did not recover its flight attitude. The glider tilted to the right and entered a flat spin-like motion before impacting the ground at a shallow angle. The impact destroyed the cockpit area and the aircraft itself. Both occupants sustained two serious injuries.
The investigation
The BFU investigation examined the aircraft, the winch operations, and witness testimonies from the launch leader and winch operator. GPS data from a collision warning device was analyzed, confirming a takeoff height of 43 meters and a brief touchdown shortly after liftoff. The investigation also reviewed the maintenance history of the SZD-50-3 „Puchacz