Unidentified Scheibe SF-27 Zugvogel V at Burn airfield.
A Sailplane ad Gliding Magazine accident summary gives basic information about this incident but does not give the BGA registration number for the glider. It states that at 15.45hrs on 1st October 1989 during the start of an aerotow launch at Burn airfield the tug aircraft took up the slack in the tow cable but this jerked the glider. The glider then ran over the cable which became wrapped around the wheel. Unaware of this, the tug aircraft pilot then applied power and set off down the runway. The glider pilot deliberately groundlooped to break the winch rope to prevent a more serious accident occurring. It was later stated that the tug pilot only had a small mirror in the cockpit to attempt to see what was happening behind him and there was no forward signaller to guide or information the tug pilot of any issues behind him.
There were only around 120 of this type of glider ever made with around 25 of these receiving British BGA registrations.
Pilot - Name unknown.