El cable de remolque del Ka 4 Rhönlerche II se engancha y provoca un accidente en el aeródromo de Bex

El 6 de junio de 1981, un Alexander Schleicher Ka 4 Rhönlerche II estuvo involucrado en un incidente en el aeródromo de Bex en Suiza. Durante un lanzamiento por remolque aéreo, el cable de remolque se desprendió del avión remolcador poco después del despegue. El piloto instructor no soltó el cable de inmediato, lo que resultó en que se enganchara en una cerca de alambre durante un giro de regreso al aeródromo. El planeador se estrelló, pero tanto el instructor como el alumno resultaron ilesos. El planeador fue destruido y una cerca resultó dañada.

1. Aerotow initial climb: During an instructional aerotow launch from runway 33, the glider climbed normally behind the tug shortly after takeoff.
2. Tow rope release: Shortly after liftoff, the tow rope unintentionally released from the tug aircraft while the glider was still low and in the initial climb.
3. Turn back initiated: Assessing height and speed as sufficient, the instructor immediately initiated a right turn to return to the airfield with the rope still attached to the glider.
4. Rope not released: The instructor did not immediately operate the glider’s release mechanism to jettison the tow rope after the separation from the tug.
5. Rope snags fence: During the right turn, the still-attached tow rope caught on a barbed wire fence and tore it along a certain length.
6. Loss of control: The glider became uncontrollable and entered a right-hand rotational descent following the rope snag.
7. Crash - no injury: The glider crashed in a field at the eastern edge of the aerodrome, destroying the aircraft and damaging the fence, while both occupants were uninjured.