Standard Cirrus hits the ground hard on an aerotow take-off as a wing catches grass

On a crosswind aerotow take-off from Chrudim behind a Zlín Z 226 MS, the pilot of a Standard Cirrus was uninjured when, after lift-off, the right wing caught taller grass at the edge of RWY 06 and the glider slewed about 90° and struck the ground hard; it was substantially damaged. On the ground run the pilot could not hold direction with the rudder, and with the wind across the runway, a belly hook and little rudder effect early on, the glider swerved strongly right. It came back behind the tug and lifted off, but the pilot did not keep it wings-level and released; the glider stopped after about 15 m.

1. Crosswind aerotow from RWY 06: The glider was aerotowed behind a Zlín Z 226 MS from RWY 06 at Chrudim; the wind was from 140–180° at 15–26 km/h, with possible gusts of 30–41 km/h, across the runway.
2. Belly hook, little rudder early: The tow rope was on the glider's centre-of-gravity hook, and early in the ground run the rudder had little effect.
3. Strong swerve to the right: On the ground run the pilot could not hold direction with the rudder and the glider swerved strongly right. At the same time the tug was pulled to the left.
4. Back behind the tug, lift-off: As speed rose the glider came back into line behind the tug and lifted off, but the pilot did not keep it wings-level.
5. Right wing catches taller grass: The right wing probably caught taller grass at the runway edge; the glider yawed sharply right and the pilot released the rope. The tug pilot then abandoned the take-off.
6. Hard impact, 90° off heading: The glider struck the ground hard about 90° off the take-off direction and stopped after about 15 m at the right edge of RWY 06. The tailplane mounting broke; the pilot was unhurt.