Kollision in der Luft zwischen Ventus CM und ASH 26E in der Nähe von Bütthard führt zu Todesfällen

Am 16. Juli 2006 ereignete sich in der Nähe von Bütthard, Deutschland, eine Kollision in der Luft zwischen einem Schempp-Hirth Ventus CM und einer Alexander Schleicher ASH 26E. Beide Motorsegelflugzeuge flogen unter thermischen Bedingungen, als sie in etwa 1000 Metern Höhe kollidierten. Die Kollision führte zur Zerstörung beider Flugzeuge und zum Tod der beiden Piloten. Der Ventus CM stürzte in Stromleitungen und fing Feuer, während der ASH 26E auf das Dach eines Wohngebäudes aufschlug. Die Untersuchung ergab keine technischen Mängel an den Flugzeugen, und die Kollision wurde von den Piloten nicht bemerkt.

1. Cross-country thermaling: The Ventus CM departed Mannheim for a cross-country soaring flight and was cruising with the engine retracted while using thermals in visual meteorological conditions.
2. Shared thermal use: Both motor gliders were circling or climbing in the same thermal updraft near Bütthard at about 1000 m above ground, creating a risk of conflict in close proximity.
3. Limited visual detection: Despite good weather, the pilots did not visually detect each other in time, indicating human see-and-avoid limitations without additional onboard collision warning aids.
4. Unseen opposing traffic: The Ventus CM and the ASH 26E approached each other on nearly opposite headings within the thermal without either pilot recognizing the developing collision course.
5. Frontal mid-air impact: The left wing of the Ventus CM struck and severed the cockpit area of the ASH 26E near its wing–fuselage junction, tearing off the Ventus’s left wing and fatally injuring the ASH pilot.
6. Uncontrolled descents: With the ASH 26E cockpit destroyed and the Ventus CM missing its left wing, both aircraft entered uncontrolled descents; the ASH 26E fell onto a house roof while the Ventus CM fuselage fell into an overhead power line and burned.
7. Crash - fatal: Both motor gliders were destroyed and both pilots were fatally injured, with additional damage to residential buildings and power lines on the ground.