Colisión de Glasflügel Mosquito con árbol durante maniobra alpina cerca de Pontresina

El 11 de julio de 1985, un Glasflügel Mosquito estuvo involucrado en un accidente fatal cerca de Pontresina, Suiza. El piloto intentó un giro pronunciado hacia una ladera de montaña, resultando en una pérdida de altitud. El planeador colisionó con un árbol en la ladera suroeste del Schafberg, causando la desintegración de la aeronave. El piloto sufrió heridas mortales en el accidente. La turbulencia pudo haber sido un factor contribuyente, pero la causa principal fue identificada como tácticas de vuelo inapropiadas en terreno montañoso.

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.