Aterrizaje en campo de Standard Libelle con obstáculos cerca de Schinznach-Dorf, Suiza
El 15 de mayo de 1976, un planeador Glasflügel Standard Libelle realizó un aterrizaje en campo cerca de Schinznach-Dorf, Suiza. Durante el Campeonato Suizo de Vuelo a Vela, el piloto encontró corrientes descendentes inesperadas y decidió aterrizar en un campo. Al intentar el aterrizaje, el ala derecha golpeó una carretera y una cerca, y el ala izquierda rozó un árbol. La aeronave sufrió daños significativos, pero el piloto resultó ileso. Hubo daños menores en el área circundante.
- Cross-country cruise: During the Swiss gliding championship, the pilot was returning cross-country toward Birrfeld in the Standard Libelle after a task leg.
- Unexpected strong sink: While still about 10 km from Birrfeld and at roughly 1000 m MSL over Thalheim, the glider encountered an unanticipated strong height loss due to downdrafts.
- Low altitude reserve: At about 1000 m MSL with only ~500 m usable height to cover the remaining distance, the altitude margin to safely reach Birrfeld was limited.
- Decision to outland: Recognizing he could no longer reach Birrfeld, the pilot selected a field near the Schinznach Dorf–Schinznach Bad road for an outlanding and assessed it with a few circles.
- Tight low-height circuit: Flying north of the field with tailwind at about 150 m AGL, the pilot, confronted with increasing sink, initiated the first 90-degree right turn earlier than planned at about 90 km/h and immediately followed with the second right turn while further increasing speed.
- Wing strikes obstacles: During the second right turn in continued strong sink, the right wing contacted the adjacent main road and fence, then the left wing struck a tree, and the fuselage impacted the ground, slewing about 90 degrees from the intended landing direction.
- Outlanding - damage: The glider sustained severe damage to the fuselage, tail, and right wing while the pilot remained uninjured and only minor ground damage occurred.