Flight History
On Friday, 7 April 1972, at 1443 hours MEZ, a student pilot on his 14th solo flight during a FVS Stage II course departed from Amlikon airfield in the glider Rhönlerche II, registration HB-615. The launch was by winch towing in runway direction 28. The student released the tow cable at 380 meters above ground, initiated a right turn, and circled over the airfield until descending to 200 meters above ground. The approach was normal. The student fully extended the airbrakes and began a right sideslip on final approach. Feeling that the landing would be too long and too fast, the pilot leveled the wings only shortly above the ground. During the recovery, the aircraft yawed to the right and flew about 45 degrees across the landing direction over the Thur River at a speed of approximately 80 km/h. The student decided to land on the path along the right bank of the river. During the landing roll, the left wing struck a bush at 1447 hours, causing the aircraft to veer to the left.
Damage
The pilot was not injured. The glider sustained heavy damage. No significant third-party damage occurred.
Findings
The pilot, born in 1953, held a valid student pilot and parachutist license. His total flight experience was 7 hours and 47 minutes, all on the accident type, with 2 hours and 11 minutes within the last 90 days. The investigation found no evidence of any health issues at the time of the accident. The aircraft was airworthy and certified for operation, with no pre-existing defects identified.
Weather at the accident site at the time: 5/8 cloud cover, light west wind, moderate turbulence, visibility 30–50 km.
Assessment
According to the flight instructor's report, the student pilot had difficulty coordinating control inputs during recovery from the sideslip on previous occasions. During the landing approach in question, the student had applied full right rudder.
Cause
The accident is with high probability attributable to incorrect operation of the rudder when recovering the glider from the sideslip in the landing approach.