Standard Cirrus crash during winch launch at Wiesendangen
On April 7, 1985, a Schempp-Hirth Standard Cirrus crashed near Wiesendangen, Switzerland, during a winch launch. The tow cable unexpectedly released at approximately 150 meters altitude, prompting the pilot to attempt a shortened circuit for landing. During the base leg, the glider stalled and crashed, resulting in the pilot's fatal injury. The investigation confirmed the cause as a stall due to insufficient airspeed before entering the final approach.
- Winch launch climb: During a winch launch from Flugfeld Winterthur, the glider climbed somewhat steeply after liftoff.
- Tow cable release: At about half the planned winch height, around 150 m above ground, the winch cable unexpectedly released from the glider.
- Abbreviated circuit planned: The pilot immediately lowered the nose to maintain airspeed and turned left to fly a shortened circuit for a normal landing on runway 21.
- Tight base leg: The base leg of the landing circuit was flown fairly tight, with the glider becoming visibly slower before turning final.
- Stall in base turn: At about 80–100 m above ground, just before turning final, the glider entered an over‑stalled condition due to airspeed below minimum and rolled off over the left wing.
- Crash - fatal: After one rotation the glider impacted the ground steeply nose‑first on grass about 400 m before runway 21, destroying the aircraft and fatally injuring the pilot.