Stall leads to fatal K 8 B crash on Ritzingeralp during alpine flight
On August 2, 1972, a Ka 8B glider crashed on the Ritzingeralp after the pilot lost control during a descent. The flight, which lasted 3 hours and 10 minutes, encountered an updraft zone leading to a significant drop in speed below the minimum required. Contributing factors included the pilot's limited experience in mountain flying and possible illness during the flight, which may have impaired his attention. The incident resulted in the pilot's death and the total destruction of the aircraft.
- Aerotow alpine soaring: The pilot aerotowed from Münster at 11:50 for an alpine soaring flight in the Ka 8B after only a brief prior mountain-flying checkout.
- Limited mountain experience: The pilot had no prior mountain soaring experience beyond a single 23‑minute dual checkout flight, providing only minimal familiarization with local alpine conditions.
- Pilot unwell in flight: During the 3‑hour flight the pilot vomited in the cockpit, indicating he was unwell and likely had reduced attention and performance.
- Entry into strong sink: While flying near the Ritzingeralp on the lee side of the main ridge, the glider entered a pronounced downdraft zone.
- Airspeed decays too low: In the downdraft the glider’s speed dropped below minimum safe flying speed at a height of roughly 70–120 m above ground, without timely corrective pitch input.
- Stall and spin entry: The glider began to buffet, then abruptly rolled off over the left wing and entered a left spin from low altitude.
- Crash - fatal: After about one turn of left spin the Ka 8B impacted the Ritzingeralp terrain nose‑down and was destroyed, fatally injuring the pilot.