Incidente de Kestrel durante la aproximación de aterrizaje en el aeródromo de Schänis

El 29 de julio de 1973, un Glasflügel Kestrel experimentó un incidente durante su aproximación de aterrizaje en el aeródromo de Schänis en Suiza. El piloto, que tenía una experiencia significativa con el planeador, inició la secuencia de aterrizaje, pero el ala izquierda del planeador rozó un campo de cañas cerca de la pista. Este contacto causó que el planeador virara a la izquierda e impactara el suelo antes de llegar a la pista. El piloto resultó ileso, pero la aeronave sufrió daños significativos. No se reportaron daños a terceros.

1. Landing approach: After a normal aerotow and soaring flight, the pilot commenced the landing on runway 35 with an approach over a reed field in front of the hard-surface runway.
2. Steep glide path: Witnesses observed a relatively steep final glide path with airbrakes about two-thirds extended, with the projected touchdown point 10–15 m before the runway threshold.
3. Too low over reeds: In the last part of the final approach the glider descended too low, such that the landing gear and left wingtip came into contact with the top of the 30–150 cm high reed field just before its end.
4. Loss of control: Contact with the reeds caused the glider to yaw left and sink further, deviating from the intended flight path and losing height rapidly.
5. Ground and road impact: About 8 m before the runway the glider struck the ground hard and the left wingtip hit the road in front of the runway, inducing a violent yaw to the left that tore off the tail section with the empennage.
6. Crash - no injury: The glider sustained severe structural damage with the tail section separated, but the pilot was uninjured and there was no third-party damage.