Accident d'un Standard Cirrus à Olmenhorn entraîne un décès

Le 28 juillet 1989, un planeur Schempp-Hirth Standard Cirrus a été impliqué dans un accident mortel à Olmenhorn, Suisse. Le pilote effectuait un vol d'entraînement local depuis Münster lorsque l'incident s'est produit. En naviguant dans une étroite ascendance près de l'Olmenhorn, le planeur est entré en collision avec un éperon rocheux, entraînant sa destruction. Le pilote a été tué sur le coup lors de l'impact. L'enquête officielle a suggéré que l'accident a probablement été causé par un virage serré à proximité du terrain.

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.