Ka 6 crash during landing attempt near Stettfurt, Switzerland
On April 23, 1988, an Alexander Schleicher Ka 6 BR crashed approximately 1 km southeast of Stettfurt, Switzerland. The glider was observed making a left turn for an emergency landing in a field but exceeded its minimum airspeed and stalled. The pilot, who could not recall the flight, sustained serious injuries, and the aircraft was destroyed. The accident was attributed to the pilot's insufficient flight training and an inappropriate landing strategy involving a tailwind approach.
- Winch launch local flight: The pilot took off at about 1300 local in the Ka-6 CR HB-618 from Amlikon by winch launch for a local soaring flight.
- Low recent experience: The pilot had generally low and not current flight training, with more than eight months since his last flight on the accident type.
- Late outlanding decision: After losing height while flying along the south side of the Sonnenberg and no longer finding lift, the pilot decided at about 200 m above the valley floor to perform an off-field landing.
- Tailwind landing attempt: Over a large, obstacle-free field south of the Lauche stream, the pilot overflew the landing area and set up for a tailwind landing with an estimated 10 kt tailwind.
- Stall in landing turn: During the final left turn for the tailwind landing, the glider’s airspeed dropped below minimum flying speed, leading to a stall and loss of control.
- Crash - serious injury: The glider impacted the ground in a left bank of about 60 degrees approximately 1 km southeast of Stettfurt, seriously injuring the pilot, destroying the aircraft, and causing minor ground damage.