Club Libelle 205 collision with spectator during landing at Zweisimmen open day event
On July 29, 1982, a Glasflügel Club Libelle 205 collided with a spectator during a landing at Zweisimmen Airfield in Switzerland. The incident occurred during an open day event organized by local gliding clubs. Safety measures had been lifted shortly before the accident, allowing the spectator to enter the runway area. The spectator, who was filming the landing, was seriously injured when the glider's wingtip struck her. The glider itself was not damaged, and no fatalities were reported.
- Landing rollout: The Club Libelle 205 HB-1261 was landing and rolling out on hard-surface runway 35, using the left side because gliders were parked along the right edge.
- Spectator enters runway: After the open day safety measures were lifted, a tourist spectator left the designated viewing area, crossed the runway, and positioned herself about 0.5 m from the left edge of runway 35 to film the approaching glider.
- Safety measures lifted: Organizers prematurely removed the special open day safety post and controls around 1220, before all non-aviation-savvy spectators had left the airfield.
- Warning not understood: The flight operations leader warned remaining people via megaphone to clear the runway, but the Dutch spectator did not understand the German dialect warnings directed at her.
- Pilot focus on landing: During final approach the pilot concentrated on the landing and on another glider being moved near the right runway edge, and only noticed the stationary spectator at the left edge when the glider was already touching down.
- Close pass on rollout: The glider touched down just before the spectator’s position and continued rolling very close to her, with the left wingtip passing within striking distance.
- Crash - serious injury: During the landing rollout the left wingtip struck the spectator’s head, causing serious injury to her while the glider itself remained undamaged.