Accidente de SZD-24 C durante lanzamiento con cabrestante en el aeródromo de Samedan, fallecimiento del piloto

El 24 de julio de 1966, un SZD-24 C sufrió un accidente fatal en el aeródromo de Samedan en Suiza. Durante un lanzamiento con cabrestante, el piloto abortó el ascenso a aproximadamente 80 metros e intentó una maniobra de giro. El planeador entró en pérdida y se estrelló desde una altura de unos 50 metros, resultando en la muerte del piloto y la destrucción del planeador. La investigación sugirió que el despliegue de los frenos de picado durante un giro lento probablemente contribuyó al accidente.

1. Winch launch climb: During a winch launch from Samedan airfield, the Foka HB-722 climbed normally to about 80 m above ground in a 25–30° attitude.
2. Early launch abort: At approximately 80 m AGL the pilot unexpectedly lowered the nose, released the winch cable, and continued straight ahead, aborting the launch.
3. Low altitude for turn: After release the glider was at only about 80 m above ground with roughly half the runway remaining, providing limited altitude margin for any turnback maneuver.
4. Attempted turnback: Instead of landing straight ahead, the pilot initiated a 180° right turn with about 45° bank at a speed that witnesses perceived as close to the lower limit.
5. Dive brakes extended: Towards the end of the slow 180° turn, the pilot extended the dive brakes to approximately half travel, further increasing drag and speed loss.
6. Stall and spiral: With low airspeed in a 45° bank and dive brakes deployed, the glider lost lift, the turn tightened into a spiral, and the nose dropped from about 50 m AGL.
7. Crash - fatal: After about one full spiral turn the glider impacted the ground nose and right wingtip first at a steep angle of 70–80°, fatally injuring the pilot and destroying the aircraft.