Pilatus B4 catches a wingtip in a low display pass

The pilot of a Pilatus B4 was killed when it caught its left wingtip on the ground during a display rehearsal. He had been towed to 1000 m above the field to practise the aerobatic sequence he was to fly at an airshow the next day. The closing figure was an inverted pass along the runway at about 5 m. From halfway down he pulled up about 30 degrees, then rolled half a turn to the left to erect while starting a left turn. The glider was about 7 m up when the left wingtip reached the ground in that turn, and it struck the ground about 40 m from the hangar. The high air temperature had lowered the air density.

1. Tow to 1000 m for display practice: The pilot was aerotowed to 1000 m above the airfield to rehearse the display he was to fly at an airshow the following day.
2. Aerobatic sequence over the field: He flew the planned sequence over the airfield. It was still 30 degrees at the field, which lowers air density.
3. Inverted pass at about 5 m: The closing figure was an inverted pass from west to east along the runway at about 5 m above the ground.
4. Pull-up and half roll to the left: From halfway along the runway he pulled up about 30 degrees, then rolled half a turn left to erect while starting a left turn.
5. Left wingtip reaches the ground: With the glider about 7 m up and banked into the turn, the left wingtip touched the ground. The pass speed was about 200 km/h.
6. Impact beside the runway: The glider struck the ground about 40 m from the hangar, north of the runway, and was destroyed.