Pilot cannot recover a Salto from a practice spin
A pilot was fatally injured when an H 101 Salto spun into the ground during solo aerobatic practice at Thun; the glider was destroyed. Practising spins for an aerobatic test, the pilot entered a right-hand spin at about 500 m AGL that immediately went flat and steady. Over six to seven turns he could not find the inputs to stop it — airbrakes in the last two turns had no effect — and it struck the ground still rotating. The flight manual gave no clear, single recovery method; tests later showed only full-forward elevator with full opposite rudder would break the spin, with near-zero control forces giving no feedback.
- Aerotow aerobatic training: The pilot was aerotowed to about 1000 m AGL at Thun to practice aerobatic figures, specifically reversals and spins in the Salto.
- Limited spin experience: Although experienced in military training spins, the pilot had never initiated spins himself in the PC-7 and had only limited time and spin experience on the Salto type.
- Ambiguous spin guidance: The Salto flight manual gave non-simple, non-unique spin-recovery instructions, allowing a range of elevator positions and warning of flat-spin risk without a clear, definitive technique.
- Right spin successfully entered: After several unsuccessful spin entry attempts and one left-hand spin, the pilot initiated a right-hand spin from about 500 m AGL which quickly settled into a relatively flat, steady spin.
- Ineffective recovery attempts: During the right-hand spin the pilot tried various inputs, including airbrakes on the last two turns, but never selected the full forward elevator and full opposite rudder needed to stop it.
- Prolonged flat spin: The glider remained in a flat, stationary right-hand spin for approximately 6–7 turns, rapidly losing the remaining altitude without any sign of recovery.
- Crash - fatal: Still in the right-hand spin, the Salto impacted the ground at Thun and was destroyed, fatally injuring the pilot.