Un LS 3 choca contra una ladera de montaña tras perder el control en vuelo alpino
El piloto de un LS 3 murió cuando el planeador chocó contra una ladera de montaña tras perder el control cerca del Wildstrubel; planeador destruido. El piloto informó por última vez ~3200 m MSL; los restos se hallaron en la ladera noroeste a ~3000 m. Volando al este cerca de la base de nubes, el planeador golpeó la roca con la puntera derecha. El piloto llevaba una cámara de vídeo y su arnés estaba desabrochado, aunque la cabina estaba cerrada; una lesión ocular coincidía con el visor. Sin causa técnica ni médica, la causa probable fue una pérdida de control inexplicada, señalándose el filmado y el vuelo cerca de la base de nubes.
- Aerotow mountain soaring: The pilot aerotowed from Zweisimmen at 14:47 and proceeded to soar in the Lenk–Wildstrubel mountain area, later reporting position at 3200 m near Wildstrubel around 17:00.
- Flight near cloudbase: The glider was operating close to the local cloudbase around 3200–3300 m, reducing vertical clearance from terrain near the Wildstrubel ridge.
- Unfastened harness: The pilot’s seat harness was not latched in the central buckle at the time of the accident, indicating he was not properly strapped in.
- Use of video camera: The pilot carried a video camera and injuries were compatible with contact with the viewfinder, suggesting he may have been filming and visually distracted from aircraft control and terrain clearance.
- Loss of control in flight: For undetermined reasons, the pilot lost effective control of the glider while flying near the Wildstrubel at high altitude close to terrain.
- Wingtip strikes terrain: While flying on an easterly track, the right wingtip impacted a rock face on the northwest flank of the Wildstrubel, indicating insufficient terrain clearance.
- Crash - fatal: Following the wingtip impact, the glider broke up and the wreckage fell about 300 m down the northwest flank of the Wildstrubel, destroying the aircraft and fatally injuring the pilot.