SZD-24C Außenlandungszwischenfall in der Nähe von Sedrun mit schwerer Pilotenverletzung
Am 7. Juni 1975 erlebte eine SZD-24C eine Außenlandung in der Nähe von Sedrun, Schweiz. Der Pilot, der sich auf einem 500 km Flug befand, hatte Schwierigkeiten beim Landeanflug. Trotz der Identifizierung eines geeigneten Landeplatzes stürzte das Segelflugzeug in einen Hang, was zu schweren Verletzungen des Piloten und zur Zerstörung des Flugzeugs führte. Die Untersuchung ergab, dass der Zwischenfall auf ein ungeeignetes Landemuster und unzureichende Höhe vor dem Endanflug zurückzuführen war.
- Cross-country cruise: During a 500 km cross-country flight after aerotow departure from Bex, the pilot continued along the route past Oberalppass toward Sedrun while losing height.
- Low arrival height: The glider crossed Oberalppass only about 100 m above ground and reached the Sedrun area at roughly 400–500 m above ground, leaving limited height margin for circuit planning.
- Decision to outland: After failing to find usable lift near Sedrun, the pilot decided to perform an outlanding on a plateau south of the village and informed his colleague by radio.
- Inadequate circuit planning: With limited height available, the pilot flew low in the area and then positioned for landing on the plateau in a way later assessed as an unpurposeful landing pattern.
- High-speed final approach: While turning toward final for the plateau above a steep slope, the pilot, reporting turbulence and sink, pushed the glider to an increased approach speed of about 100 km/h.
- Too low over slope: Realizing he was too low on short final over the steep slope below the plateau, the pilot pulled up at the last moment but the glider still impacted the terrain about 29 m below the crest.
- Crash - serious injury: The glider struck the slope hard, slid a few meters uphill, then down the hillside and was destroyed, while the pilot sustained serious injuries.