LS 4 incident at Sädelhorn: pilot loses consciousness and crashes on rocky terrain
On July 20, 1992, a Rolladen-Schneider LS 4 took off from Münster airfield and encountered a serious incident near Sädelhorn, Switzerland. During the flight, the pilot lost consciousness while circling in an updraft near Blinnenhorn. The uncontrolled glider descended and collided with rocky terrain at approximately 2600 meters elevation. The pilot regained consciousness upon impact but was unable to control the aircraft, resulting in serious injuries. The glider sustained significant damage, and the pilot was rescued by a helicopter crew.
- Aerotow to soaring area: The LS4 launched by aerotow from Münster at 14:49 and released near the Sidelhorn at about 2400 m before proceeding to soar in the surrounding mountains.
- Thermaling near Blinnenhorn: The pilot climbed in lift near the Blinnenhorn to about 3300 m, then later returned to the same area and was circling in 1 m/s lift at about 2700 m with the glider trimmed for 80–90 km/h.
- Sudden loss of consciousness: While circling in the updraft near Blinnenhorn, the pilot suddenly experienced a loss of consciousness (syncope) without prior warning signs.
- Uncontrolled descent toward terrain: With no pilot control, the glider drifted toward the Sädelhorn area and descended toward a rocky high plateau (Ringjini) at about 2600 m, below the summit.
- Ground contact on scree slope: Still uncontrolled, the glider approached from the west in a flight path resembling a normal approach and made tangential contact with the sloping scree field, the pilot regaining consciousness at the first impact.
- Crash - serious injury: The glider came to rest at low speed against a large rock with substantial airframe damage, and the pilot sustained serious injuries before being rescued by helicopter.