LS-1C Kollision mit Felswand nahe Fletschhorn, Schweiz

Am 9. August 1985 kollidierte ein LS-1C Segelflugzeug mit einer Felswand an der Westflanke des Fletschhorn-Massivs in der Schweiz. Der Pilot, der vom Flugplatz Münster zu einem 460 km Flug gestartet war, wurde bei dem Unfall tödlich verletzt. Das Segelflugzeug wurde beim Aufprall in einer Höhe von 3350 Metern zerstört. Die Untersuchung stellte fest, dass die bestehenden gesundheitlichen Probleme des Piloten, einschließlich Arteriosklerose und Lungenproblemen, zum Unfall beigetragen haben könnten. Der Bericht empfahl, die medizinischen Untersuchungen für Segelflugzeugpiloten zu überprüfen.

1. Cross-country cruise: After an aerotow departure from Münster for a planned 460 km task, the pilot continued a long cross-country flight in the Alps, later remaining at about 3350 m near the Fletschhorn late in the afternoon.
2. Suboptimal soaring conditions: Forecast and actual conditions provided only slow progress and weak lift, encouraging flying close to terrain to maintain height in the mountainous area.
3. Pilot health limitations: The pilot had pre-existing arteriosclerosis and significant chronic lung disease, was convalescent from a recent flu, and flew for many hours at altitude without using the onboard oxygen system.
4. Dehydration and low energy: On this long performance flight the pilot forgot to take his usual in-flight food and drink, predisposing him to dehydration, blood thickening, and hypoglycaemia over several hours.
5. Low margin ridge flight: While flying along the west side of the Fletschhorn massif, the glider was flown close to a steep, irregular rock face at roughly constant altitude around 3350 m, leaving little clearance from the terrain.
6. Impaired judgement/vision: Likely combined effects of chronic disease, oxygen deficit, dehydration, and low blood sugar may have degraded the pilot’s judgement and visual performance while assessing terrain clearance near the ridge.
7. Crash - fatal: At approximately 17:47 the glider impacted a rock wall at the Jegigrat on the west side of the Fletschhorn at about 3350 m, destroying the aircraft and fatally injuring the pilot.