AAIB reports incident with Schleicher ASW 24 G-CHBB, August 2023

The accident occurred during an aircraft tow launch from Dunstable Airfield. Eyewitnesses reported that the vertical position of the glider behind the tug was unstable at an early stage of the launch. While the pilot appeared to regain some control of the instability, shortly after the tow aircraft lifted off, witnesses noticed that the tow cable had become detached from the glider, which was at an altitude of less than 50 feet above ground level. Despite the lack of traction from the tow aircraft, the glider continued to climb to 50 to 100 feet above ground level before entering a steep left turn at a low and decreasing airspeed. Shortly after entering the turn, the glider turned left and began to spin in autorotation before impacting the ground nose first. Witnesses at the airfield arrived at the glider within 80 seconds of the accident, but the pilot, who sustained fatal injuries during the accident, could not be rescued.

The investigation did not reveal any mechanical problems with the tow coupling or other defects that could have led to an uncontrolled release of the tow rope or impaired the controllability of the glider.

The investigation could not conclusively determine why or how the tow rope separated from the glider so early in the takeoff. With the glider no longer connected to the tow plane, the accident pilot was in a difficult position and may have suffered the negative performance effects of shock and/or surprise. With little altitude or speed left, he had to decide quickly on an appropriate course of action. His decision to turn back towards the airfield suggests that he did not consider a landing further ahead to be a viable option. Tragically, turning back at that altitude and speed proved impossible.

This accident shows how difficult it is to make effective decisions when something unexpectedly goes wrong during a critical phase of flight. Pilots may verbalize their intentions during a contingency briefing, but the ability to execute the plan when frightened, surprised, and under extreme pressure is not necessarily guaranteed.

Read the report.