Accidente de Ka 6 BR cerca de Grüt bei Gossau resulta en lesiones graves
El 10 de agosto de 1980, un planeador Ka 6 BR pilotado por un ciudadano suizo despegó del aeródromo de Speck-Fehraltorf con la intención de completar un vuelo de cinco horas. El piloto soltó del avión remolcador a 1000 metros y voló hacia el sureste antes de regresar. Cerca de Grüt bei Gossau, el planeador entró en pérdida a una altitud inferior a 100 metros y se estrelló verticalmente. El piloto sufrió lesiones graves y la aeronave fue destruida. La investigación confirmó que el accidente fue causado por exceder la velocidad mínima de pérdida y una decisión tardía de aterrizar.
- 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.