Spalinger S-19 Zwischenfall beim Windenstart am Flugplatz Amlikon, Flugtrainingsunfall

Am 19. April 1965 war ein Spalinger S-19 bei einem Trainingsflug am Flugplatz Amlikon in der Schweiz in einen Unfall verwickelt. Der Flugschüler, der kürzlich auf dieses Flugzeugmodell umgestiegen war, hatte während des Windenstarts Schwierigkeiten, als die linke Flügelspitze den Boden berührte, was dazu führte, dass das Segelflugzeug nach links abdriftete. Trotz Versuchen, die Situation zu korrigieren, ging das Flugzeug in einen steilen Steigflug über und überzog, was zu einem Absturz führte. Der Schüler erlitt schwere Verletzungen und das Flugzeug wurde zerstört. Die Untersuchung hob das Versäumnis des Schülers, das Windenseil zu lösen, als beitragenden Faktor hervor.

1. 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.
2. Left wingtip strike: While accelerating on the ground, the left wingtip touched the ground and the glider yawed somewhat to the left.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.