Colisión de un Ka 8 con personal de tierra durante el aterrizaje en el aeródromo de Schänis
El 26 de abril de 1975, un Alexander Schleicher K 8 B colisionó con un estudiante de vuelo durante el aterrizaje en el aeródromo de Schänis en Suiza. El estudiante fue golpeado por el ala izquierda del planeador, resultando en heridas graves. El piloto, que regresaba de un breve vuelo de entrenamiento, no vio al estudiante en la pista a tiempo para evitar la colisión. El planeador sufrió daños menores, con una abolladura en el ala izquierda. Las condiciones meteorológicas eran claras con buena visibilidad, y no se encontraron problemas técnicos con la aeronave.
- Landing approach: The Ka 8 HB-679, returning from a short training flight, was on final approach to land on grass runway 35 parallel to the hard-surface runway.
- Parallel runway operations: Gliding operations were being conducted with takeoffs on the hard-surface runway and landings on the adjacent grass runway, requiring heightened vigilance due to the small separation between them.
- Low pilot experience: The glider pilot had relatively low total and recent flight experience, including limited hours on type.
- Student enters landing area: A glider student, moving a tow rope from the hard-surface runway, walked onto the grass landing runway without checking for approaching aircraft.
- Pilot focuses on touchdown: Although the pilot saw the student, she assumed he would remain clear of the danger area and concentrated primarily on executing the landing along the runway axis.
- Student not warned: Club members shouted warnings to the student, but he did not hear them due to the noise of the towplane engine and continued into the path of the landing glider.
- Crash - serious injury: Shortly after touchdown, the left wingtip of HB-679 struck the student's head, causing him serious injury and denting the wing leading edge, while the pilot maintained control after a brief yaw deviation.