Colisión del Pilatus B4-PC 11AF con el personal de tierra durante el aterrizaje en el aeródromo de Buochs

El 7 de abril de 1984, un Pilatus B4-PC 11AF estuvo involucrado en una colisión durante el aterrizaje en el aeródromo de Buochs en Suiza. El ala izquierda del planeador golpeó a un miembro del personal de tierra que estaba asistiendo en los preparativos de lanzamiento y se movió inadvertidamente hacia la pista. El miembro del personal sufrió heridas graves como resultado de la colisión. El planeador resultó gravemente dañado, pero no hubo víctimas mortales. El informe oficial confirmó que el accidente ocurrió porque el miembro del personal de tierra no notó el planeador que se acercaba.

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.