Ka 8 B collision with barn during outlanding in Schüpfheim, Switzerland
On July 22, 1971, an Alexander Schleicher K 8 B experienced a hard landing in unsuitable terrain near Schüpfheim, Switzerland. The pilot, attempting an outlanding, collided with a barn after touching down on a hilly field. Despite the challenging landing conditions, the pilot was unharmed. However, the aircraft sustained significant damage, including broken wings and a shattered cockpit canopy. The incident was attributed to the selection of an inappropriate landing site.
- Cross-country flight: The pilot aerotowed from Saanen and flew a cross-country task toward Schüpfheim to complete the FAI silver distance.
- Unsuitable field chosen: Arriving over Schüpfheim, the pilot selected a small grass field west of the Kleine Emme for an outlanding, not recognizing that it lay at the foot of a slope with uneven surface.
- Better fields overlooked: The pilot disregarded or did not recognize the clearly more suitable landing options in the flat valley floor east of the river, instead committing early to the hilly, obstacle-rich terrain to the west.
- Steep fast approach: Because of the descending terrain toward the chosen field, the pilot flew a steep final approach and touched down with high speed on the short, uneven grass strip.
- Bounce on uneven ground: During the rollout the glider bounced over two ground undulations, dynamically overloading the left wing spar and degrading directional control.
- Outlanding - damage: About 127 meters after first touchdown the glider collided with a barn with its right wing, heavily damaging both wings and the canopy while the pilot remained uninjured.