DG 500 Elan nose hook releases rope on aerotow, pilot turn-back into trees
The front pilot of a DG 500 Elan was fatally injured and the rear occupant seriously injured when the glider struck treetops after the nose hook released the tow rope without command at low altitude on aerotow from Laufenselden; aircraft destroyed. After lift-off from RWY 06 the nose hook released the rope at ~45 m AGL over a forest gap. Witnesses saw the glider turn left with increased AoA rather than continuing straight ahead; in the low turn it contacted treetops and fell into 25-30 m woodland. The cause of the uncommanded release was undetermined.
- Aerotow takeoff from RWY 06: A DG 500 Elan two-seater with two occupants began an aerotow departure from RWY 06 at Laufenselden airfield behind a tug, lifting off about mid-field. The glider used its nose hook for the aerotow.
- Nose hook releases rope at ~45 m AGL: At about 45 m AGL, while climbing over a forest gap in line with the runway, the nose hook released the towrope without command and the glider separated from the tug. The investigation could not conclusively identify the cause of this uncommanded release.
- Pilot turns left, not straight ahead: After the release, witnesses observed the glider enter a left turn with a clearly increased angle of attack. With the rope-break advice (and the low height) calling for a straight-ahead outlanding, the choice to turn back at low altitude removed the energy and clearance margin.
- Treetop contact in low-altitude turn: In the low-altitude left turn the glider contacted the tops of trees at the edge of the forest, losing further energy and controllability.
- Fall into woodland; 1 fatal + 1 SI: The glider fell into 25-30 m high woodland near the airfield and was destroyed. The front-seat pilot was fatally injured; the rear-seat occupant was seriously injured.