What happened
On July 7, 2024, at 12:19 local time, a Schleicher K-8B glider, registration HA-4012, was performing a winch-assisted takeoff from runway 34 at Tapolca Airfield for a private flight. During the initial stage of the climb, the pilot experienced a significant loss of airspeed, perceiving it as a tailwind gust. At approximately 50 meters altitude, the aircraft began to bank to the right. The pilot, believing that a cable break procedure was unnecessary because they had never experienced such an event with a synthetic rope, failed to react in time to maintain speed. Consequently, the aircraft entered a stall.
The resulting asymmetric stall caused the glider to yaw approximately 180 degrees toward the takeoff direction. The right wingtip struck the ground, causing the aircraft to spin and impact the earth nose-first. The impact resulted in the total destruction of the Schleicher K-8B. The pilot sustained one serious injury to the right leg when it became trapped between the deformed rudder pedals.
The investigation
The investigation examined the flight sequence, the aircraft's structural condition, and the meteorological environment. Investigators reviewed the pilot's training records, noting that while experienced in gliding, the pilot had little experience performing winch launches using synthetic rope. The committee also analyzed weather data from the Sümeg station, which indicated moderate thermal activity and intermittent wind gusts at the time of the accident.
Findings
- The direct cause of the accident was the pilot's delayed reaction to the loss of airspeed due to a loss of situational awareness during the steep climb.
- The aircraft entered an asymmetric stall, leading to the uncontrolled flight path and subsequent impact.
- Meteorological conditions, specifically thermal activity and wind gusts, acted as contributing factors.
- The pilot's lack of experience with synthetic rope winch launches influenced the decision-making process regarding airspeed management.