Crash du Ka 8 lors d'un lancement au treuil à l'aérodrome d'Ambri après rupture de câble

Le 19 août 2000, un Schleicher Ka 8B a subi un accident mortel à l'aérodrome d'Ambri en Suisse lors d'un lancement au treuil. Le câble du planeur s'est rompu à une altitude d'environ 90-100 mètres, entraînant une perte de contrôle. Le pilote élève a tenté un virage à droite mais n'a pas pu retrouver la stabilité, ce qui a entraîné une collision avec le sol. Le pilote a subi des blessures mortelles et l'appareil a été détruit. Le rapport a souligné le mauvais état du câble de treuil comme facteur contributif.

1. Winch launch climb: During a training winch launch from runway 11, the Ka 8B was climbing through about 90–100 m AGL with the student pilot on board.
2. Winch cable breaks: At approximately 90–100 m AGL the winch cable, which was in poor condition, failed and broke during the launch.
3. Initial pitch-down: The student correctly pushed the control stick forward to regain speed and the broken winch cable released from the glider.
4. Low-altitude right turn: Instead of continuing straight ahead on the remaining runway, the student initiated an early right turn to track back along runway 11 at low altitude.
5. Second turn, low speed: Around 150 m from the runway threshold at about 50–60 m AGL, the student began a second right turn, was drifted north of the runway by the southeast wind, and increased bank to realign with the runway while airspeed decreased markedly.
6. Loss of control in turn: With a steep bank estimated around 60° and insufficient airspeed, the glider descended on a very steep flight path and the pilot lost control, striking the ground with the right wingtip and overturning.
7. Crash - fatal: The glider was destroyed in the crash beside runway 11 and the student pilot, though initially rescued alive, later died from the severe injuries sustained.