LS3-17 crash near Egerkingen results in pilot fatality
On August 10, 1980, a Rolladen-Schneider LS3-17 glider crashed near Egerkingen, Switzerland. The pilot had taken off from Birrfeld Airfield and intended to complete a round trip to L'Auberson. After 1 hour and 28 minutes of flight, the glider descended rapidly from approximately 100 meters above ground and crashed, resulting in the destruction of the aircraft and fatal injuries to the pilot. The official report attributes the accident to flying below the minimum safe speed at low altitude, with potential contributing factors including pilot behavior and possible physical or psychological impairment.
- Cross-country cruise: After aerotow release from Birrfeld, the pilot conducted a cross-country soaring flight toward the Jura, progressing slowly and often struggling to gain height.
- Low, marginal soaring: In the Egerkingen area the glider was flying in weak thermals at low altitude, with the pilot having difficulty maintaining or gaining height.
- Reluctance to outland: Despite several suitable outlanding fields being available near his low-altitude track, the pilot continued the flight instead of committing to an off-field landing, possibly influenced by the lack of a trailer for retrieval.
- Continued low flight: At low height the pilot flew about 4.5 km straight ahead past Kappel and over the Egerkingen industrial area without configuring for landing and without selecting an outlanding field.
- Speed below stall: While flying straight ahead at approximately 100 m above ground, the glider’s airspeed dropped below the minimum flying speed.
- Stall and spin entry: The glider abruptly rolled left, entered a spin (vrille), and began descending rapidly with one to two turns from the low altitude.
- Crash - fatal: The pilot partially arrested the spin but, lacking sufficient height to recover fully, the glider impacted a maize field and was destroyed, fatally injuring the pilot.