Ka 6 outlanding near Plaffeien with significant aircraft damage
On July 26, 1971, a Ka 6 CR glider conducted a training flight from Bern-Belp Airport. The pilot attempted to return to the departure point but encountered altitude loss near Plaffeien, Switzerland. Due to insufficient altitude, the pilot decided on an outlanding at Zollhaus. The aircraft was heavily damaged during the landing, but the pilot was unharmed. The official report identified that the final approach was initiated with inadequate altitude reserve.
- Aerotow cross-country: The pilot aerotowed from Bern-Belp at 14:16 for a training cross-country flight intending to return to the departure airfield.
- Altitude loss near terrain: After flying via Zimmerwald–Riggisberg–Gurnigel to the Gantrisch and then west toward the Mähre at about 2000 m MSL, the glider began losing altitude and the pilot could not find sufficient lift.
- Insufficient height for pass: While attempting to return via the Selibühl pass, the pilot lacked updrafts and adequate height reserve and therefore did not risk crossing the pass.
- Low-altitude outlanding decision: Near Zollhaus, at about 400 m above ground, the pilot decided to perform an outlanding on a selected field.
- Downwind approach chosen: The pilot flew the intended landing area uphill into the valley despite a tailwind, initiating the final approach with a low height margin.
- Sink and short approach: During the landing turn the glider was carried over a small slope, encountered about 3 m/s sink, and the final approach became shorter than planned.
- Outlanding - damage: At about 15:45 the glider touched down slightly skidding and performed a ground loop, heavily damaging the aircraft while the pilot remained uninjured.