L-Spatz 55 outlanding incident near Lostorf results in heavy aircraft damage
On August 4, 1971, a Scheibe-Flugzeugbau GmbH L-Spatz 55 experienced an outlanding near Lostorf, Switzerland. The pilot, starting from Courtelary, intended to reach Birrfeld but opted to land at Olten due to low altitude. Unable to locate the airfield, he continued to Lostorf, selecting a sloped plateau for landing. During the approach, the glider overflew the intended landing area and collided with a maize field. The pilot was uninjured, but the aircraft sustained significant damage.
- Aerotow cross-country: The pilot launched by aerotow from Courtelary for a cross-country flight toward Birrfeld and released at about 800 m above ground.
- Low cruising altitude: En route the pilot only reached about 700 m above ground near Olten, leaving limited height margin for continuing the cross-country flight.
- Outlanding field selected: Unable to locate the Olten airfield, the pilot continued to Lostorf and chose a slightly elevated, sloping plateau south of the town as an outlanding field.
- Downslope and tailwind: The chosen field sloped downhill in the intended landing direction and the pilot later determined he was landing with a light tailwind.
- Complex downslope approach: To reach the field the pilot flew a right turn with increased speed over a high-voltage line, then performed a slipping approach with full airbrakes over a preceding wood.
- Speed control lost: During the slip the pilot lost control of airspeed, and when he levelled in ground effect he noticed the glider had accelerated to about 100 km/h and was overshooting the sloping field.
- Outlanding - damage: After retracting the airbrakes and pulling up at the end of the field, the glider’s tail struck 1.3 m high maize plants and then impacted the adjacent field, heavily damaging the aircraft but leaving the pilot uninjured.