Ka 6 landing incident at La Joux Perret results in severe damage
On June 3, 1972, a pilot flying an Alexander Schleicher Ka 6 E took off from Courtelary for a triangular flight. After encountering diminishing lift, the pilot opted for a field landing at La Joux Perret, Switzerland. During the landing approach, a slight right turn near the ground led to the left wingtip touching the ground, causing the glider to ground loop and sustain severe damage. The pilot was unharmed, and there was no damage on the ground. The official report confirmed the accident was caused by a turn executed at insufficient altitude.
- Cross-country cruise: After aerotow departure from Courtelary, the pilot flew cross-country via Chasseral, St-Imier, Renan and La Cibourg on a planned triangular task.
- Lift conditions cease: When the thermals/ascendances stopped near La Joux Perret, the pilot could no longer sustain soaring flight and had to plan an outlanding.
- Slight tailwind: The selected landing direction in the field involved a light tailwind of about 2–3 knots, although the direction was later judged acceptable.
- Field landing approach: The pilot conducted a normal approach into the chosen field, successfully overflying an electrical line and then noticing that the first part of the field sloped uphill.
- Low-altitude right turn: To align with the uphill slope, the pilot made a slight flat right turn at very low altitude just before touchdown.
- Left wingtip strikes: During this low-altitude turn, the left wing contacted the ground, initiating a ground loop (cheval de bois).
- Outlanding - damage: The glider ground-looped and its tail broke, causing serious damage to the aircraft but no injuries to the pilot and no damage on the ground.