Ka 7 Außenlandung und Flügelkontakt bei Schleitheim, Schweiz

Am 5. August 1973 erlebte eine Ka 7 eine Außenlandung in der Nähe von Schleitheim, Schweiz. Das Segelflugzeug, gesteuert von einem erfahrenen Piloten mit einem Passagier an Bord, hatte Schwierigkeiten, ausreichende Höhe zu gewinnen. Der Pilot versuchte eine Außenlandung auf einem Feld, aber während einer Kurve in niedriger Höhe berührte die linke Flügelspitze den Boden. Das Flugzeug wurde schwer beschädigt, der Pilot erlitt leichte Verletzungen und der Passagier blieb unverletzt.

1. Aerotow cross-country: The Ka-7 launched by aerotow from Schaffhausen-Neunkirch for a cross-country flight toward the Randen area with a passenger on board.
2. Lee-induced height loss: During the flight in the Randen area the pilot failed to recognize lee effects in time, leading to a substantial and unplanned loss of altitude.
3. Ineffective soaring tactics: For more than an hour the pilot used unsuitable flight tactics and, despite prolonged searching, was unable to find usable lift, leaving the glider at low height and unable to return to the departure airfield.
4. Late outlanding decision: The pilot delayed the decision to perform an outlanding until the glider had been flying for around ten minutes at very low height above ground, then chose a field on the Rüetisberg as the landing site.
5. Steep low-altitude turn: To land into wind, as also suggested by the passenger, the pilot attempted a steep landing turn at minimal height toward the selected field.
6. Wingtip strikes ground: During the steep low-altitude turn the left wingtip struck the ground—either due to underspeed or misjudged height—causing the glider to yaw sharply left.
7. Crash - minor injury: The glider came to rest heavily damaged about 90 meters short of the intended landing field at the edge of a barley field, the pilot was slightly injured and the passenger unhurt.