Spalinger S-19 incident during winch launch at Amlikon Flugplatz, flight training accident
On April 19, 1965, a Spalinger S-19 was involved in an accident during a training flight at Amlikon Flugplatz in Switzerland. The flight student, who had recently transitioned to this aircraft model, encountered difficulties during the winch launch when the left wingtip touched the ground, causing the glider to veer left. Despite attempts to correct the situation, the aircraft entered a steep climb and stalled, leading to a crash. The student sustained serious injuries, and the aircraft was destroyed. The investigation highlighted the student's failure to release the winch cable as a contributing factor.
- Winch launch ground roll: During a training winch launch on grass runway 28, the student began the ground roll in the Spalinger S-19 shortly after being newly converted to this type.
- Left wingtip strike: While accelerating on the ground, the left wingtip touched the ground and the glider yawed somewhat to the left.
- Launch continued, correction: Believing he could recover without issue, the student did not release the winch cable and instead applied full right aileron and rudder to correct the deviation.
- Abnormal steep climb: After liftoff, the winch-launched glider, tethered near its center of gravity, pitched into an abnormally steep climb and began a slow right rolling/yawing motion despite full opposite control inputs.
- Late cable release: At about 30 m above ground, after the aircraft’s longitudinal axis had passed the vertical with airspeed greatly reduced, the student finally released the winch cable.
- Stall and dive: Following cable release, the glider transitioned into a dive from which the pilot, even with full up elevator, could not fully arrest the descent.
- Crash - serious injury: Approximately 120 m from the start point the glider impacted the runway area at a 30–45° angle, first striking the right wingtip and then breaking up, seriously injuring the student pilot and destroying the aircraft.