What happened
On September 5, 2022, during an oldtimer flight week at the Gelnhausen airfield, an amateur-built Olympia-Meise glider was involved in a fatal accident during a winch launch. Following the morning preparations and briefing, the pilot began the rigging process for the aircraft. During this period, several participants were involved in setting up various equipment, leading to frequent interruptions and distractions for those performing the assembly.
At approximately 13:03, the glider commenced its launch on runway 25. Witnesses noted that after liftoff, the aircraft entered a shallow climb. Due to a southwest wind, the glider drifted slightly to the right. The winch operator observed that the aircraft was not properly attached to the cable, causing the winch RPM to increase steadily. As the aircraft reached an altitude of approximately 80 to 100 meters AGL, the winch operator reduced the speed to idle, at which point the cable released from the center tow coupling.
Following the release, the glider maintained its slight right bank and continued to pitch downward. The aircraft entered a steady glide into a line of trees at the edge of the airfield. The impact with the trees and the subsequent ground collision resulted in the destruction of the aircraft and the death of the pilot.