SZ23 Glider (C-GFMC) – From the Investigator

The accident flight was part of the Air Cadet Gliding Program in support of the spring glider familiarization flying operations. The glider crew consisted of a Civilian Instructor pilot and a cadet passenger.

The pilot was conducting their 5th passenger familiarization flight of the day from grass Runway 32, using the winch launch procedure. The first four flights proceeded normally with winds progressively decreasing to near calm by the time of the occurrence flight. During the initial climb portion of the launch, the glider was intentionally released from the winch tow rope and the take off sequence was aborted. Following the successful release, the glider adopted a nose-low attitude and impacted the ground with high energy.

The aircraft sustained very serious damage. One occupant suffered minor injuries, while the other sustained serious injuries.

The investigation is ongoing and is focusing on materiel, environmental, and human factors.