LS-6B verunglückt nach Handlungsunfähigkeit des Piloten
Am 20. März 2002 kam der Pilot einer Rolladen-Schneider LS-6B in Quinto, Schweiz, bei einem Absturz ums Leben. Der Pilot, ein 1946 geborener Schweizer Staatsbürger, verlor wahrscheinlich aufgrund von Bewusstlosigkeit die Kontrolle über das Segelflugzeug, verursacht durch unzureichende Ernährung und Dehydration. Das Segelflugzeug kollidierte mit Bäumen, was zur Zerstörung des Flugzeugs und zu tödlichen Verletzungen des Piloten führte. Die schwierigen Wetterbedingungen und das Fehlen aktueller Flugausbildung des Piloten waren beitragende Faktoren.
- Winch launch climb: The pilot winch-launched from Ambri RWY 28 and climbed to about 550 m above the airfield before proceeding to soar along the northern ridge.
- Poor recent currency: In the eight and a half months before the accident the pilot had flown only a single 19‑minute check flight, despite having reported much higher recent experience.
- Inadequate hydration/nutrition: The pilot was in a state of fasting and advanced dehydration, with a completely empty stomach, minimal ketone-positive urine, and unopened food and drink found in the cockpit.
- Turbulent northerly winds: The flight took place in strong, turbulent northerly winds in a demanding mountain soaring environment, increasing pilot workload and control demands.
- Pilot loses consciousness: While soaring along the ridge after climbing to about 2,000 m AMSL, the pilot likely experienced impaired consciousness or brief loss of consciousness due to dehydration and inadequate nutrition.
- Loss of control: With the pilot’s consciousness impaired, control of the glider was lost and the aircraft entered a steep, uncontrolled descent toward the terrain.
- Crash - fatal: The glider impacted a forested slope at an estimated 70–80° nose-down attitude, destroying the aircraft and fatally injuring the pilot.