Ventus C collision with terrain near St. Stephan resulting in fatality
On July 30, 2000, a Schempp-Hirth Ventus C glider collided with terrain near St. Stephan, Switzerland. The pilot, a Swiss national born in 1951, was conducting a private flight during an alpine gliding camp. Witnesses observed the glider entering a steep descent before impacting the ground vertically. The pilot was fatally injured in the accident. The investigation found no technical faults with the aircraft, and the incident was likely due to medical reasons, though this could not be confirmed with certainty.
- Cruise thermaling flight: After an aerotow departure from Zweisimmen at 13:45, the pilot was cruising and circling in lift near the Wistätthorn with other gliders during an alpine soaring camp.
- Onset of steep descent: While flying a wide, normal-looking turn east of the Wistätthorn ridge, the glider suddenly began to lower its nose rapidly during the next 90 degrees of turn for no apparent operational or technical reason.
- Possible medical incapacitation: The pilot had significant coronary artery narrowing that could have led to reduced heart muscle oxygenation and possible loss of consciousness, and no technical or handling issues were found to explain the maneuver.
- No visible recovery action: Throughout the ensuing 270-degree turn with an increasingly nose-down attitude, witnesses observed no apparent corrective control inputs or pull-out from the dive by the pilot.
- Vertical high-speed dive: The glider transitioned into a near-vertical attitude and continued straight down for approximately the last 100 meters at an estimated much higher speed, with airbrakes partially extended at impact.
- Crash - fatal: The glider impacted the terrain almost vertically and buried its nose in the ground, destroying the aircraft and fatally injuring the pilot.