Student pilot loses pitch control of an unfamiliar ASK 23 on aerotow
A student pilot was seriously injured and an ASK 23 destroyed in an aerotow launch at Schänis. It was his first flight on the single-seat type; his solo and test flying had been on a Bergfalke III that handled quite differently. The glider stayed on the runway past midway, then lifted off abruptly as he pulled back and climbed above the towplane. He pushed forward and struck the runway hard; the glider bounced and overshot the tow again. Two further, harder impacts followed as his corrections came late; on the third the fuselage tube broke in two.
- Aerotow takeoff roll: During an aerotow departure on runway 34 at Schänis, the ASK 23B remained on the ground until about halfway down the runway despite accelerating normally.
- Abrupt rotation: Around mid-runway, the student pilot pulled the control stick more briskly, causing the glider to lift off abruptly and climb above the normal tow position behind the Robin DR 400.
- Overcorrection nose-down: To correct the excessive pitch-up and overstepping of the tug, the pilot pushed the stick forward, driving the glider into a hard impact with the runway and a subsequent bounce.
- Uncontrolled pitch oscillation: The pilot then applied repeated late, excessive pitch corrections, causing two more, harder bounces as the glider alternately overshot the towplane and struck the runway.
- Fuselage breaks in bounce: On the third very hard impact, the fuselage tube broke in two, leaving the glider largely uncontrollable as it climbed again to about 5–10 meters and rolled off to the right.
- Crash - pilot seriously injured: The glider struck the ground to the right of the runway on its right wingtip and nose and came to rest inverted; the aircraft was destroyed and the student seriously injured.