Incidente de K-8B en el Aeropuerto de Grenchen durante el segundo vuelo solo de un estudiante piloto
El 26 de junio de 1978, un estudiante piloto que volaba un planeador Alexander Schleicher K-8B sufrió un accidente fatal poco después de despegar del Aeropuerto de Grenchen. Durante el lanzamiento por remolque, el planeador comenzó a oscilar y finalmente se soltó del avión remolcador a una altitud de aproximadamente 100 metros. El planeador entró en un ascenso pronunciado seguido de una pérdida de sustentación y se estrelló verticalmente, resultando en la destrucción de la aeronave y la muerte del piloto. La investigación no pudo determinar la causa exacta de la pérdida de 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.