MDM-1 Fox stall and spin accident near Arbaz, Switzerland
On May 3, 1997, an MDM-1 Fox glider crashed near Arbaz, Switzerland, resulting in the deaths of the pilot and passenger. The glider, engaged in a private flight, stalled and entered a spin at an altitude insufficient for recovery. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact with a rock and subsequent crash onto a snow-covered area. Weather conditions included good visibility and mild turbulence, and the glider was slightly over its maximum weight limit.
- Aerotow local flight: The pilot and his brother departed Sion by aerotow in an MDM-1 Fox for a local training flight and released near Anzère at about 2000 m.
- Heavily loaded glider: The glider was slightly over maximum takeoff mass and had a forward center of gravity, increasing stall speed and making it nose-heavy.
- Ridge and thermal flight: The pilot flew along the slope near Anzère searching for thermals, repeatedly traversing the Combe d'Arbaz–Les Rousses area while remaining at roughly the same altitude.
- Excessive pitch-up: While flying straight and level near the Anzère–Pas-de-Maimbré cableway, the pilot likely increased pitch in an attempt to gain extra altitude, reducing airspeed toward the stall warning region.
- Abrupt stall and spin: The glider suddenly stalled in straight flight and entered a very pronounced, steep-nosed, rapidly rotating spin observed by witnesses.
- Insufficient height for recovery: The spin developed at an altitude too low to allow full recovery before ground impact.
- Crash - fatal: After 2–3 turns of spin the glider struck a large rock, rebounded onto a snow-covered ledge, and was destroyed, fatally injuring both occupants.