DG 300 Elan collision during outlanding near Andermatt, Switzerland
On July 23, 1990, a DG Flugzeugbau DG 300 Elan was forced to perform an outlanding near Andermatt, Switzerland, due to challenging thermal conditions. The pilot attempted to land in a designated field along the Gotthard road but was unable to lose enough altitude due to a tailwind. During the landing, the right wing struck an obstacle, causing the glider to rotate 90 degrees and come to a stop in a nearby meadow. The pilot sustained minor injuries, and the aircraft was significantly damaged. The incident was attributed to a misjudged landing approach and insufficient consideration of wind conditions.
- Cross-country cruise: The pilot departed Zweisimmen by aerotow for a 500 km cross-country flight and was returning after abandoning the task due to poor thermals.
- Forced outlanding need: Near Andermatt, deteriorated thermal conditions forced the pilot to plan an outlanding instead of continuing the flight.
- Tailwind landing field: The pilot selected a designated outlanding field along the Gotthard road that, under the prevailing NE wind, could only be approached with a tailwind and without fully considering the wind conditions.
- High tailwind approach: After flying a circuit, the pilot conducted the final approach to the SW with a tailwind, using full airbrakes and a sideslip in an attempt to lose height.
- Aborted glide over obstacles: Unable to reduce altitude sufficiently and to avoid obstacles at the end of the field, the pilot ended the sideslip, retracted the airbrakes, and pulled up to try to land in a meadow beyond the obstacles.
- Wing strikes obstacles: During this maneuver the right wing struck a stack of reinforcing mesh and an excavator, causing the glider to yaw about 90 degrees and come to rest in the adjacent meadow.
- Crash - minor injury: The glider stopped in the meadow with substantial damage, and the pilot sustained minor injuries.