Stefan wrote in message ...
Bill Daniels wrote:

Perhaps someone familiar with the incident could explain why the pilot tried
to turn back from a height of 80 meters. I would expect that, with a wire
break at 80 meters, the pilot would have 75% or more of the airfield
straight ahead for a safe landing

Stress? Overtax? Panic? Blackout? It's happened before.

Stefan


The commentator says:

"Sunday afternoon in Magdenburg.
It was a routine start with winch, but at 80m the cable breaks.
For the pilot this crash ends with a couple of cutting wounds"

The glider is a 2-seater DG500. Probabbly with only the pilot on
board.
The commentator's voice is very professional. A story by the media for
the general public?. Not very good for our sport.
If standard rules (e.g. landing straight ahead after this low cable
break) had been performed nothing seriously would have happened. And
why did the cable break anyway (weak cable, heavy glider, to steep a
take off, to much force on the cable by the winchman and what have
you).

Karel, NL