S-19-II incident at Holderbank: Pilot parachutes to safety after control failure
On January 15, 1961, a Spalinger S 19 II experienced a control failure during a flight near Holderbank, Switzerland. The pilot, who had taken off from Birrfeld Airfield, encountered a sudden loss of control when the control stick became detached. Fortunately, the pilot successfully deployed his parachute and landed safely, with no injuries reported. The glider, however, was destroyed upon impact with the ground. The incident was attributed to a structural failure in the control system due to improper welding, as confirmed by the official investigation.
- Aerotow to ridge: The pilot aerotowed from Birrfeld airfield in HB-544 to the Chestenberg ridge to fly a five‑hour soaring task.
- Ridge soaring cruise: For about one and a half hours the pilot flew regular figure‑eight patterns in ridge lift along the Chestenberg, trimmed slightly tail‑heavy.
- Control stick failure: At about 13:05, while initiating another right turn at 250 m above the west end of the Chestenberg, the control stick broke loose at its lower attachment and hung only on the control cables.
- Loss of control: With the control stick disconnected, the glider pitched up, lost speed, passed through a mush/sackflug phase, and then entered an increasingly steep dive.
- Pilot bailout: The pilot jettisoned the canopy, released his harness, exited the glider head‑first, and deployed his parachute, which opened normally.
- Uncontrolled maneuvers: After the pilot left, the unmanned glider performed two uncontrolled loopings before descending toward the ground.
- Crash - no injury: The pilot landed uninjured by parachute in a limestone quarry near Holderbank, while the glider crashed nearby and was destroyed on impact.