Ka 6 BR crash near Grüt bei Gossau results in serious injury
On August 10, 1980, a Ka 6 BR glider piloted by a Swiss national took off from Speck-Fehraltorf airfield intending to complete a five-hour flight. The pilot released from the tow plane at 1000 meters and flew southeast before turning back. Near Grüt bei Gossau, the glider stalled at an altitude below 100 meters and crashed vertically. The pilot sustained serious injuries, and the aircraft was destroyed. The investigation confirmed that the crash was caused by exceeding the minimum stall speed and a delayed decision to land.
- Aerotow cross-country: The pilot aerotowed from Speck-Fehraltorf and released at about 1000 m, then flew southeast in thermals before turning back toward the departure airfield.
- Prolonged height loss: On the return leg from the Bachtel area toward Speck-Fehraltorf, the glider was continuously losing altitude and eventually descended to a few hundred meters above ground.
- Delayed outlanding decision: Despite deteriorating lift and low altitude, the pilot waited too long to decide to abandon the task and commit to an off-field landing.
- Low circling near ground: Near Grüt, the pilot continued circling in weak lift at less than 100 m above ground, close to a high-voltage power line over 40 m high.
- Pilot under pressure: The pilot was under increasing pressure from the marginal height and may have been further distracted or irritated by the nearby high-voltage line, reducing attention to airspeed control.
- Stall and wing drop: After a short straight segment following the low-altitude circling, the glider’s speed fell below minimum, it entered an over‑stalled condition and abruptly rolled off over the left wing.
- Crash - serious injury: The glider descended in a steep, near-vertical attitude onto uneven grass terrain and was destroyed, with the pilot sustaining serious injuries.