Colisión de Standard Libelle 201 con cable cerca de Rigi-Kulm resulta en fatalidad

El 5 de junio de 1983, un Glasflügel Standard Libelle 201 colisionó con un cable de teleférico cerca de la cima de Rigi-Kulm, Suiza. El planeador estaba en un vuelo de entrenamiento desde el aeródromo de Buttwil en condiciones meteorológicas favorables. Aproximadamente a las 15:50 hora local, la aeronave golpeó el cable a 250 metros al sureste del pico Rigi, causando que se estrellara en una pendiente pronunciada. El piloto sufrió heridas mortales y el planeador fue destruido. La investigación oficial confirmó que el piloto no mantuvo la altitud mínima de vuelo, lo que llevó a la colisión.

1. Aerotow training flight: The experienced pilot took off by aerotow from Buttwil at 14:27 for a local training soaring flight in good weather conditions.
2. Ridge soaring near Rigi: After release at about 1300 m MSL, the glider proceeded to the Rigi area and was later seen flying at relatively low height along the north side of Rigi-Kulm.
3. Poor cable visibility: In the late afternoon lighting the unmarked goods cableway wires on the northeast flank of Rigi were very hard to see against the dark rock and shaded terrain.
4. Busy local airspace: At the time of the accident at least one other glider, three hang gliders, and a low-flying powered aircraft were in the Rigi-Kulm area, potentially distracting the pilot.
5. Minimum height undershot: While ridge soaring along the slope, the pilot descended below the prescribed 60 m minimum height above ground, placing the glider in the height band of the cableway support wire.
6. Collision with cable: At about 15:50 the glider, in straight and nearly level flight, struck the 18 mm carrier cable of the goods cableway approximately 3.77 m inboard of the right wingtip at 1725 m MSL, 250 m southeast of Rigi-Kulm.
7. Crash - fatal: Following the cable strike the damaged glider tumbled down a steep rocky slope for about 110 vertical meters, was destroyed, and the pilot sustained fatal injuries.