El ASW 19 entra en pérdida en un viraje ascendente a baja altura junto a la ladera
El piloto de un ASW 19 resultó fatalmente herido cuando el planeador entró en pérdida en un viraje ascendente a baja altura y chocó contra una ladera cerca de Ritzigeralp; planeador gravemente dañado. En vuelo de ladera, el piloto inició un viraje ascendente; aún en ascenso, el planeador se fue a la derecha, bajó el morro y chocó contra la ladera, morro y ala derecha primero. La causa probable fue una entrada en pérdida en un viraje demasiado cerca de la ladera, sin altura para recuperarse; el piloto conocía la zona pero tenía poca experiencia. El aerofreno derecho se halló extendido, palanca en «retraído», sugiriendo apertura espontánea.
- Ridge soaring flight: After aerotow departure from Münster and release near Ritzigeralp, the pilot was ridge soaring along the slope of the Goms valley.
- Limited recent experience: The pilot had relatively low overall and recent flight time, including limited hours on the ASW 19, despite prior mountain flying camps.
- Tight climbing turn to slope: While flying along the slope on a heading of about 45°, the pilot initiated and completed a 180° right turn and then entered a pronounced climbing turn of about 90° toward the slope at low height.
- Right airbrake extended: The right-wing airbrake was found extended although its lever was set to retracted, suggesting it may have opened on its own and added asymmetric drag on the right wing.
- Stall and wing drop: During the continued climb toward the slope, the glider suddenly rolled right toward the terrain and the nose dropped abruptly, consistent with an aerodynamic stall.
- Insufficient recovery time: The glider descended rapidly for about two seconds toward the slope, and the pilot was unable to regain normal flight before ground impact.
- Crash - fatal: The glider struck the slope near the Ritzigeralp almost nose-first and right wing first, broke apart after a half rotation, and the pilot was fatally injured.