Kollision in der Luft zwischen zwei LS 7-WL Segelflugzeugen im Aegenetal, Schweiz

Am 1. August 2000 kollidierten zwei Rolladen-Schneider LS 7-WL Segelflugzeuge in der Luft in der Region Aegenetal in der Schweiz. Beide Piloten nahmen an einem alpinen Segelfluglager teil und flogen nach Sichtflugregeln. Die Kollision ereignete sich, weil die Piloten sich gegenseitig nicht sahen, möglicherweise aufgrund verminderter Konzentration nach langen Flügen in großer Höhe. Beide Segelflugzeuge wurden zerstört, aber die Piloten retteten sich sicher mit Fallschirmen und erlitten schwere Verletzungen. Die Wetterbedingungen waren zum Zeitpunkt des Vorfalls günstig mit guter Sicht.

1. Aerotow cross-country: After aerotow departure from Münster, Pilot 1 conducted a long high-altitude cross-country soaring flight in excellent weather conditions.
2. Prolonged high-altitude flight: Pilot 1 had been flying for over six hours at relatively high altitude, leading to decreasing concentration over time.
3. Low visual conspicuity: Both white LS7 gliders, with slender profiles against sky and clouds and nearly head-on opposing tracks, were inherently difficult to see.
4. Sun position glare: The sun’s position to the left of glider 1 and right of glider 2 may have further hindered visual acquisition of the opposing aircraft.
5. Opposing flight paths: While cruising straight and level near Aegenetal, glider 1 on a northwesterly track and glider 2 on a southerly track converged toward each other at a high closing speed.
6. Late sighting, no avoidance: Pilot 1 did not see the slightly lower glider 2 at all and Pilot 2 perceived glider 1 only a fraction of a second before impact, leaving no time for effective evasive action.
7. Mid-air collision: Glider 1’s right wing struck glider 2’s tailplane over the middle of the valley, both gliders broke up and crashed, and both pilots bailed out by parachute and sustained serious injuries.