Standard Libelle outlanding near Schwarzenburg results in significant damage
On May 7, 1972, a Glasflügel Standard Libelle experienced an outlanding near Schwarzenburg, Switzerland. The pilot, participating in a regional competition, encountered unexpected strong downdrafts during the return leg of a flight from Bern to Romont and back. Forced to land in a hilly area, the glider touched down on a grassy field, overshot a field path, and impacted an embankment, resulting in significant damage to the fuselage. Despite the severe damage to the aircraft, the pilot was unharmed. The investigation concluded the accident was due to an outlanding in unsuitable terrain.
- Cross-country return leg: During the return leg of a Bern–Romont–Bern cross-country task, the pilot was flying the Standard Libelle back toward Bern in hilly terrain.
- Encounter strong sink: About 10 km from the destination, the glider encountered unexpectedly strong downdrafts that prevented continued glide to Bern.
- Unsuitable landing terrain: The surrounding hilly area offered few suitable landing options, and a field path forming a 60 cm deep ditch across the chosen field was hardly visible from the air.
- Forced outlanding attempt: The pilot elected to perform an outlanding on an uphill grassy field and chose to land with the landing gear retracted to shorten the landing roll.
- Impact with field edge: After touchdown the glider overflew the sunken field path and then struck the slightly raised opposite edge, breaking the fuselage behind the wing trailing edge and rendering the aircraft uncontrollable.
- Uncontrolled jump and second impact: The now uncontrollable glider made an approximately 15 m jump and then impacted nose-first in a beet field before sliding to a stop in normal attitude.
- Outlanding - damage: The pilot was uninjured but the glider sustained severe structural damage in the off-field landing.