ASK 13 low-altitude cable break — shortened circuit instead of turn-back, tree strike
After a low-altitude winch cable break at Braunfels, both occupants of an ASK 13 sustained minor injuries and the glider was heavily damaged. The pilot held a five-month-old license and 115 hours. The cable broke at 45-60 m AGL on RWY 07. The pilot pushed the nose down, released, and chose a shortened circuit rather than the safer turn-back and landing in reverse direction that this low height called for. The 180 deg final turn was initiated at about 34 m AGL with 39 deg bank, overshooting the centerline; the left wing struck a tree southwest of RWY 07 and the glider impacted nose-first, coming to rest inverted.
- Winch launch from Braunfels RW 07: Normal acceleration and initial climb at 15:07; pilot and passenger on board.
- Cable break at 45–60 m AGL: Pilot felt a soft jolt, airspeed decayed; cable broke. Pilot pushed the nose down, attempted release 3×, noted 60 m AGL on altimeter.
- Shortened circuit chosen: Pilot decided on a shortened circuit (one of four procedures he'd considered at cockpit check), turning left 180°.
- Downwind too close to runway: Downwind was not parallel to the runway, leaving insufficient margin for the final turn.
- Low, steep final turn: 180° final turn was initiated at about 34 m AGL with ~39° bank, overshooting the extended centerline toward obstacles south of the runway.
- Left wing strikes tree: Left wing contacted a tree bordering the meadow southwest of RW 07; loss of control.
- Nose-first impact, inverted: Aircraft impacted nose-first and came to rest inverted. Both occupants minor injuries; aircraft heavily damaged. BFU: at this low height, a turn-back with landing in reverse direction would have been safer.