Collision d'un Glasflügel Mosquito avec un arbre lors d'une manœuvre alpine près de Pontresina

Le 11 juillet 1985, un Glasflügel Mosquito a été impliqué dans un accident mortel près de Pontresina, en Suisse. Le pilote a tenté un virage serré vers une pente de montagne, entraînant une perte d'altitude. Le planeur a percuté un arbre sur le versant sud-ouest du Schafberg, provoquant la dislocation de l'appareil. Le pilote a subi des blessures mortelles dans l'accident. La turbulence pourrait avoir été un facteur contributif, mais la cause principale a été identifiée comme des tactiques de vol inappropriées en terrain montagneux.

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.