El Janus B cae en barrena contra los árboles tras un giro cerrado muy lento en ladera
Un Janus B biplaza en vuelo de ladera en el Schänerberg cayó en barrena desde un giro cerrado muy lento a ~100 m del suelo contra los árboles y quedó destruido; ambos ocupantes resultaron gravemente heridos. Con térmicas azules débiles, solo ganó 400 m en 30 min y volaba bajo en la ladera, con los flaps aún a +8°. Al reingresar a la ladera con ~50° de inclinación y 90 km/h, quedó bajo la velocidad de pérdida de esa configuración. Con poca experiencia en el tipo, no había calculado cuánto la elevaban flaps e inclinación — la norma es volar con flaps 0 en ladera. Causa: no respetar la velocidad mínima y descuidar la mayor velocidad en viraje.
- Ridge thermaling flight: After aerotow release at about 1700 m, the pilot flew weak to moderate thermals and then began ridge-soaring along the Schänerberg with flaps set to +8°.
- Low climb, low margin: In weak lift the pilot needed about 30 minutes to gain only 400 m, continuing to operate close to the terrain with limited altitude margin.
- High bank near terrain: At about 1300 m MSL and roughly 100 m above ground, the pilot flew steep ridge turns with 45–50° bank despite the weak updraft conditions.
- Flap setting +8°: The glider remained in +8° flap setting, increasing stall speed in banked turns, which the pilot did not adequately account for.
- Right turn at low speed: While turning right back toward the slope with about 50° bank at roughly 90 km/h, the glider’s airspeed was below the required minimum for that configuration and bank angle.
- Stall and spin entry: The glider stalled and entered a spin at approximately 100 m above ground, leaving insufficient height for recovery.
- Crash - serious injury: In a right-hand spin the glider struck 20 m high trees on the steep Schänerberg slope and was destroyed, seriously injuring both occupants.