Atterrissage en campagne de la Standard Libelle avec obstacles près de Schinznach-Dorf, Suisse

Le 15 mai 1976, un planeur Glasflügel Standard Libelle a effectué un atterrissage en campagne près de Schinznach-Dorf, Suisse. Lors du Championnat suisse de vol à voile, le pilote a rencontré des courants descendants inattendus et a décidé de se poser dans un champ. Lors de la tentative d'atterrissage, l'aile droite a heurté une route et une clôture, et l'aile gauche a frôlé un arbre. L'appareil a subi des dommages importants, mais le pilote est resté indemne. Il y a eu des dommages mineurs dans la zone environnante.

1. Cross-country cruise: During the Swiss gliding championship, the pilot was returning cross-country toward Birrfeld in the Standard Libelle after a task leg.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.