Colisión en el aire entre ASK 23 y Mirage sobre Grenchenberg, Suiza

El 26 de junio de 1995, un Alexander Schleicher ASK 23 colisionó en el aire con un avión militar Mirage sobre Grenchenberg, Suiza. El ASK 23 estaba en un vuelo de entrenamiento local, mientras que el Mirage realizaba una misión de reconocimiento militar. Ambos pilotos eran conscientes de la presencia del otro, pero no pudieron evitar la colisión debido a las altas velocidades y la visibilidad limitada. El ASK 23 sufrió daños en su parte inferior y en los sistemas de control, pero el piloto logró aterrizar de manera segura. El Mirage también sufrió daños menores pero regresó a la base sin más incidentes. No se reportaron heridos.

1. Aerotow local flight: The ASK 23B was aerotowed from Grenchen for a local training soaring flight and released at about 1600 m MSL between Grenchenberg and Hasenmatt.
2. Busy soaring area: Multiple gliders were operating in the Solothurn Jura between Chasseral and Weissenstein, a common 'soaring corridor' on such days, increasing traffic density.
3. High-speed Mirage survey: A Mirage RS was conducting infrared photo survey lines at about 4000 ft in the same area at roughly 700 km/h with significant bank angles and limited forward visibility from the cockpit.
4. Low glider conspicuity: The modern white ASK 23B presented a very slim frontal silhouette that was difficult to detect visually against the horizon.
5. Mirage turns toward glider: While the glider was cruising westward back toward Grenchenberg, the Mirage, previously seen flying west–east at similar altitude, suddenly entered a left turn northbound toward the glider with a large bank angle.
6. Pilot pulls up: Seeing the Mirage rapidly closing with little time to react, the glider pilot instinctively raised the nose in an attempt to avoid collision.
7. Mid-air collision: The two aircraft made a glancing mid-air contact that split the underside of the glider’s fuselage and bent a control pushrod, but the glider remained controllable and the pilot landed safely back at Grenchen with no injuries.