Un Standard Cirrus choca contra una pared al circular ceñido junto a una cresta alpina

El piloto de un Standard Cirrus murió cuando el planeador chocó contra una pared en el Olmenhorn; quedó destruido. En un vuelo privado desde Münster, el piloto se soltó del remolque a ~2500 m MSL. La ladera no servía, por lo que la única ascendencia era un núcleo térmico estrecho sobre la cresta, que exigía fuerte inclinación y velocidad. El piloto circuló ceñido sobre la roca; en un viraje, el ala derecha golpeó un saliente a media envergadura y se desprendió, y el planeador fue lanzado ~50 m ladera abajo. No se halló causa técnica, meteorológica ni médica; la causa probable fue circular demasiado ceñido cerca del terreno.

1. Aerotow local flight: The pilot launched by aerotow from Münster for a local training flight and released over the Blinnental at about 2500 m in strong thermals.
2. Mountain thermal soaring: The pilot proceeded to soar in alpine terrain, later thermaling near the Strahlhorn and then towards the Olmenhorn in an area known for demanding mountain flying.
3. Very narrow thermal: At the Olmenhorn the usable thermal core was very narrow, requiring high bank angles and increased airspeed to remain in the lift close to steep, rocky terrain.
4. Tight circling near slope: While thermaling about 200 m below another glider, the pilot began tight left-hand circles in the narrow thermal directly above a steep, jagged rock face on the Olmenhorn southwest ridge.
5. Continued close-in turns: The pilot continued to circle several times in close proximity to the terrain instead of increasing clearance from the rock outcrops.
6. Wing hits rock outcrop: In a high-bank turn the glider’s right wing mid-span struck a protruding rocky promontory, tearing off the outer wing section and destroying the wing center section.
7. Crash - fatal: Following the wing strike the glider was catapulted into the slope and broke up on the steep rock and scree, fatally injuring the pilot and destroying the aircraft.