Incident du Karpf Baby lors d'un vol d'entraînement à l'aéroport de Les Eplatures

Le 26 juin 1965, un Karpf-Flugzeugbau Karpf Baby a été impliqué dans un accident à l'aéroport de Les Eplatures en Suisse lors d'un vol d'entraînement. L'élève pilote, remorqué par un avion Piper, a largué le câble de remorquage à basse altitude en raison d'un vent de travers. Le planeur a dévié vers la droite et a percuté le toit d'un hangar avant de s'écraser au sol. Le pilote a subi de graves blessures et le planeur a été détruit. L'accident a été attribué à une réaction de panique probable de l'élève pilote.

1. Aerotow takeoff: During an aerotow training flight from runway 06, the student in Karpf Baby HB-513 began a normal takeoff behind a Piper PA-18 in a strong, turbulent crosswind.
2. Early tow release: Shortly after liftoff, when the glider had drifted slightly off the runway centerline, the student released the tow cable at only about 10–15 meters altitude.
3. Strong crosswind: A 10–15 knot N-NE crosswind with moderate to strong turbulence made directional control after low-altitude tow release more difficult.
4. Limited glider experience: The student had relatively little recent glider experience, with only a few prior solo glider flights and none since the previous year.
5. Probable panic reaction: Seeing the glider displaced to the right of the towplane, the student likely reacted in panic by releasing the tow and then holding full control inputs without effectively correcting the bank.
6. Uncontrolled right turn: After the low-altitude release, the glider rolled and turned further to the right despite full aileron and rudder correction, leading to loss of control close to the ground.
7. Crash - serious injury: The glider’s right wing struck a hangar roof, the fuselage hit the farmhouse roof ridge, and the aircraft then fell nearly vertically to the ground, seriously injuring the pilot and destroying the glider.