ASK 13 collision with person during landing at Grenchen Flugplatz
On August 21, 1981, an Alexander Schleicher ASK 13 glider collided with a person during landing at Grenchen Flugplatz, Switzerland. The student pilot was executing his second solo flight and was approaching the yellow-marked landing strip. During the landing, the left wing of the glider struck one of three individuals standing on the runway, causing head injuries. The collision occurred because the individual remained on the runway unnecessarily. The glider sustained damage to its left wing, but there were no fatalities.
- Aerotow landing: During his second solo flight after an aerotow launch, the student pilot flew a normal circuit and turned onto final approach to land on the yellow-marked glider landing strip.
- People on landing strip: On final approach the student pilot observed a group of three glider students standing on the yellow landing strip in his intended touchdown area.
- Obstructed adjacent strips: The pilot assessed that lateral deviation was inadvisable because a towplane was on the red takeoff strip to his left and another glider landing had been announced on the blue strip to his right.
- Person remains on strip: Despite the approaching glider, one of the students (Y) remained standing unnecessarily within the yellow landing strip near its left edge instead of moving clear.
- Approach continued: Expecting the group to vacate the runway or that he could pass by them, the student pilot continued a normal, straight-in landing on the yellow strip without a late avoidance maneuver.
- Wing strikes person: At touchdown about 42.5 m beyond the threshold and slightly south of the centerline, the glider’s left wingtip area struck student Y in the head as he stood near the left side of the yellow strip.
- Crash - serious injury: The glider veered left and stopped south of the yellow strip with damage to its left wing, and student Y sustained head injuries from the wing impact.