Ka 2B collision with terrain near Ennenda during ridge soaring
On May 31, 1982, an Alexander Schleicher Ka 2B glider collided with terrain near Ennenda, Switzerland, during a ridge soaring flight. The pilot and a passenger had taken off from Mollis Airfield earlier that day. While attempting to gain altitude along the Chrisegg ridge, the glider lost speed and altitude, resulting in a collision with the slope. The pilot sustained minor injuries, while the passenger was seriously injured. The glider was destroyed in the impact.
- Ridge soaring flight: After an aerotow departure from Mollis, the pilot conducted a several-hour soaring flight and was ridge soaring along the west slope of Chrisegg to gain height.
- Low experience, fatigue: The pilot had relatively low total gliding experience and reported feeling somewhat tired after the long flight, which likely degraded his judgment of terrain clearance.
- Tight turn near slope: While flying close to the steep mountainside and finding lift, the pilot initiated a right-hand circling turn with insufficient distance from the slope.
- Sink and speed loss: On the valley side of the turn the glider encountered sink and a reduction in airspeed, eroding its energy margin near the terrain.
- Pushed toward slope: To regain airspeed, the pilot pushed the nose down toward the mountainside while still in close proximity to the steep slope.
- Collision with slope: With insufficient height and distance to recover, the glider struck the steep slope in an angled attitude near the upper edge of a small snow cone.
- Crash - serious injury: The glider was destroyed on impact, the pilot was slightly injured, and the passenger sustained serious injuries.