K-8B incident at Grenchen Airport during student pilot's second solo flight
On June 26, 1978, a student pilot flying an Alexander Schleicher K-8B experienced a fatal accident shortly after takeoff from Grenchen Airport. During the aerotow launch, the glider began to oscillate and eventually released from the towplane at an altitude of approximately 100 meters. The glider entered a steep climb followed by a stall and crashed vertically, resulting in the destruction of the aircraft and the death of the pilot. The investigation could not determine the exact cause of the loss of control.
- Aerotow takeoff: On his second solo flight in the K-8, the student pilot began an aerotow takeoff from runway 25 in strong, gusty crosswind and turbulent conditions.
- Tow oscillations develop: Shortly after liftoff, the glider began increasingly pronounced wave-like pitch oscillations behind the towplane during the initial climb.
- Challenging wind and turbulence: The flight took place in strong, gusty winds with significant turbulence, conditions under which the student had already shown difficulty on the previous landing.
- Low experience on type: The student pilot had limited solo experience overall and had completed only one prior flight on the K-8 that day, during which he had control difficulties in the crosswind landing.
- High tow position and release: While in a steep climb attitude and about 10 meters above the towplane, the student released the tow rope from the glider.
- Steep turn and stall: Immediately after release, the glider entered a very steep, nose-high right turn, then transitioned into an almost vertical, apparently uncontrolled dive from about 100 meters above ground.
- Crash - fatal: The glider impacted the ground at high speed near the end of the airfield, destroying the aircraft and killing the student pilot on impact.