Glasflügel Mosquito Kollision mit Baum während Alpenmanöver bei Pontresina

Am 11. Juli 1985 war ein Glasflügel Mosquito in einen tödlichen Unfall in der Nähe von Pontresina, Schweiz, verwickelt. Der Pilot versuchte eine steile Kurve in Richtung eines Berghangs, was zu einem Höhenverlust führte. Das Segelflugzeug kollidierte mit einem Baum an der Südwestflanke des Schafbergs, wodurch das Flugzeug auseinanderbrach. Der Pilot erlitt bei dem Absturz tödliche Verletzungen. Turbulenzen könnten ein beitragender Faktor gewesen sein, aber die Hauptursache wurde als unangemessene Flugtaktik im Gebirgsgelände identifiziert.

1. Cruise near slope: After a normal winch launch from Samedan and about 2¼ hours of soaring, the glider was cruising down-valley at about 2200 m along the right side of Val Bernina toward Samedan.
2. Steep turn toward slope: Near the Unterer Schafberg restaurant, the pilot initiated a steep, nose‑high right turn toward the southwest slope of the Schafberg, with the terrain only about 100–150 m away.
3. Mountain flight tactic: The maneuver represented an inappropriate mountain flying tactic, involving a tight turn toward rising terrain with limited height and escape options.
4. Possible turbulence: Local turbulence in the sunlit slope area may have contributed to an uncommanded loss of height during the maneuver.
5. Loss of altitude: As the glider came around to approximately opposite course during the steep turn, it lost altitude in close proximity to the slope.
6. Impact with tree: About three-quarters of the way through the turn, the glider struck a tree downslope with its right wing, causing both wings to separate and the fuselage to break apart.
7. Crash - fatal: The fuselage wreckage slid down the steep forested slope and the pilot, though initially rescued alive, succumbed shortly afterward to severe internal injuries.