Pilatus B4-PC 11AF collision with ground crew during landing at Buochs airfield
On April 7, 1984, a Pilatus B4-PC 11AF was involved in a collision during landing at Buochs airfield in Switzerland. The left wing of the glider struck a ground crew member who was assisting with launch preparations and inadvertently moved onto the runway. The crew member sustained serious injuries as a result of the collision. The glider was heavily damaged, but no fatalities occurred. The official report confirmed that the accident happened because the ground crew member did not notice the approaching glider.
- Landing approach: The Pilatus B4 glider was on final approach to land on runway 07 while simultaneous launch preparations were taking place on the same runway.
- Simultaneous ops on runway: On the 40 m wide runway 07, glider launches were conducted on the left side while landings occurred on the right side, requiring very careful coordination of ground personnel.
- Hazardous cable area: The cable drop-off point south of the runway required ground helpers to move between sides of the runway, exposing them to risk from landing traffic.
- Helper enters landing path: After attaching the front weak link on the left side, the student helper walked along the tow cable and then onto the right half of runway 07 without properly checking for the landing glider.
- Pilot loses visual: The landing pilot saw the helper on the left side when crossing the threshold, then focused on the landing and only noticed him again immediately before impact when he had moved into the right half of the runway.
- Wing strikes helper: As the helper walked toward the waiting glider with the cable end in hand, the left wing of the landing glider struck his left upper arm despite his last-moment attempt to duck after hearing a rushing noise.
- Crash - serious injury: The ground helper sustained serious injuries and the glider was heavily damaged in the collision between the landing aircraft and the start helper.