K 8 crash during aerotow at La Chaux-de-Fonds results in fatality
On May 29, 1982, a Piper PA-18 towing a Schleicher K 8 glider crashed near La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland. The tow pilot, who was in the early stages of training, and the glider pilot, resuming training after a nine-month break, lost control of their aircraft. The tow pilot was killed, and the glider pilot sustained serious injuries. Both aircraft were destroyed, but there was no damage to third parties. The official report identified insufficient coordination and low towing experience as contributing factors.
- Aerotow climb: The K-8 glider HB-777, flown by a pilot resuming training after a nine‑month break, was aerotow climbing behind Piper PA-18 HB-ORB after a normal takeoff from runway 06.
- Failed tow release: At about 600 m QFE near Pouillerel, the glider pilot initiated the standard right fuselage opposition and pulled the release handle twice, but for unknown reasons the tow rope did not actually release from the glider.
- Low towing experience: Both pilots had low experience in aerotow operations, with the tow pilot at the beginning of his tow training and the glider pilot relatively low-time and out of practice.
- No release verification: Neither pilot verified that the rope had actually separated— the glider pilot did not visually confirm the rope was gone and the tow pilot did not check in the mirror before maneuvering.
- Towplane turns back: Believing the glider had released, the tow pilot initiated a pronounced right turn to return toward the airfield while the aircraft were still connected by the tow rope.
- Loss of control in tow: The continued connection during the towplane’s steep right turn caused violent abnormal attitudes, with the glider being pulled nearly vertically and then into further uncontrolled motions while the towplane entered a steep dive and subsequent spin.
- Crash - fatal: Still connected by the rope until the fuse finally broke, the towplane impacted the ground almost vertically and the glider crashed inverted nearby, fatally injuring the tow pilot and seriously injuring the glider pilot, with both aircraft destroyed.