Accidente del ASW 19 en Ritzigeralp tras entrada en pérdida durante giro
El 3 de agosto de 1992, un Alexander Schleicher ASW 19 se estrelló en Ritzigeralp, Suiza. El planeador entró en pérdida y colisionó con el terreno durante un giro en la región alpina. El piloto, que tenía una experiencia de vuelo reciente limitada, resultó fatalmente herido. La investigación confirmó que el planeador estaba en buen estado y que las condiciones meteorológicas eran favorables para el vuelo a vela. Los testigos observaron el descenso abrupto del planeador y su impacto con la pendiente.
- 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.
- 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.