El LS 4 desciende sin control tras el desmayo del piloto
El piloto de un LS 4 resultó gravemente herido tras perder el conocimiento espiralando cerca del Sädelhorn; el planeador descendió sobre una ladera rocosa, gravemente dañado. En ascendencia débil a unos 2700 m MSL, el síncope llegó sin previo aviso. Sin piloto, derivó hacia un pedregal bajo la cima y, por azar, se presentó por el lado oeste casi horizontal en actitud casi normal y se posó despacio contra una roca. El piloto solo volvió en sí en el primer impacto. La causa probable fue un síncope; el piloto nunca había sufrido un malestar y había tomado todas las precauciones. Su supervivencia se debió a un azar extraordinario.
- 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.