Skylark IV forced landing near Blonay after premature tow release

On April 11, 1971, a Slingsby T.50 Skylark 4 was involved in an incident near Blonay, Switzerland. During an aerotow flight from Lausanne to Bex, the glider was forced to release prematurely due to a significant reduction in towing speed. Unable to find suitable lift, the pilot executed an emergency landing, during which the glider collided with a fence. The pilot was unharmed, but the aircraft sustained significant damage. The incident was attributed to the necessity of releasing the tow in an area unsuitable for landing.