Incidente de DG-600 en Sool, Suiza, resultando en fatalidad
El 10 de septiembre de 2000, un planeador Glaser-Dirks Flugzeugbau DG-600 se estrelló cerca de Sool, Suiza. El piloto, que era el único ocupante, fue expulsado de la cabina al impactar y sufrió heridas mortales. El incidente ocurrió después de que se observara al planeador realizando maniobras inusuales a alta velocidad. Una investigación reveló que no había problemas técnicos preexistentes con la aeronave. Sin embargo, hallazgos médicos sugirieron que el piloto tenía graves problemas cardíacos que probablemente contribuyeron a la pérdida de control.
- Aerotow departure: The pilot assembled and checked his private DG-600 with his wife’s assistance at Schänis and took off by aerotow at 13:02 without abnormalities.
- Post-tow cruising: After releasing from tow over the Schilt group, the pilot thanked the tug pilot and continued gliding in the local area under good weather conditions.
- Pilot incapacitation: While cruising, the pilot likely suffered a consciousness disturbance related to severe pre-existing heart disease, initiating a loss of effective control of the glider.
- Unusual high-speed flight: Another glider pilot and ground witnesses observed the DG-600 flying straight at very high speed toward Gulderstock–Schwanden, then abruptly entering unusual attitudes including a steep left bank of 60–90 degrees.
- Descent into terrain: The glider entered a descending flight path with about a 45-degree nose-down attitude, sheared the tops off small trees, and continued toward rising terrain.
- Crash - fatal: The glider impacted the slope near Alp Fessis/Kuhboden and was destroyed; the pilot was thrown from the cockpit, his parachute partially deployed from its pack, and he sustained fatal injuries.