LS 4 descends uncontrolled after pilot blacks out
The pilot of an LS 4 was seriously injured when he lost consciousness thermalling near the Sädelhorn; the glider descended onto a rocky slope, aircraft substantially damaged. Circling in weak lift at about 2700 m MSL, the pilot blacked out without warning. The glider drifted toward a scree field below the summit and, by chance meeting the near-level west side in a near-normal attitude, touched down at low speed against a boulder. He came round only at the first impact. The probable cause was a sudden syncope; the experienced pilot had no history of malaise, felt normal, and had taken every precaution. He survived by extraordinary chance.
- 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 resembling a normal approach and made tangential contact with the sloping scree field, where the pilot regained consciousness.
- 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.