Ka 6 collision with tree during outlanding near Wellhausen, Switzerland
On June 7, 1970, a Ka 6 CR collided with a tree during an outlanding attempt near Wellhausen, Switzerland. The pilot, participating in a regional gliding competition, was forced to land outside due to insufficient altitude. While attempting to land on a suitable field, the pilot misjudged the approach and collided with a tree, resulting in the glider crashing from a low height. The pilot sustained serious injuries, and the aircraft was heavily damaged. The official report concluded that the pilot's late decision to land contributed to the incident.
- Cross-country thermaling: During a competition cross-country flight after aerotow from Schaffhausen, the pilot progressed around the task while struggling with weak and intermittent thermals.
- Insufficient lift en route: On the leg after Amlikon, the pilot was unable to find further usable lift, lost height, and was forced to plan an outlanding near Wellhausen.
- Late outlanding decision: The pilot delayed the decision to outland until about 300 m above ground over unfamiliar terrain, leaving little height for proper field reconnaissance and circuit planning.
- Altitude misjudgment: Using QFE set to the higher-elevation departure airfield, the pilot likely misjudged his true height above the lower outlanding field and believed he had more height available than he did.
- Long, high final approach: He selected a mown field near the road overpass, flew a left-hand circuit, and only after the final 90° turn realized his approach was too long and high, then used full airbrakes and a sideslip to lose height.
- Last-moment field change: When he saw he would overfly his intended touchdown point, he retracted the airbrakes, pulled up using excess speed, and turned about 90° left to divert to another nearby field, attempting to pass between light poles and over a small tree.
- Crash - serious injury: During the low-altitude diversion turn the glider struck the tree and crashed from a low height, seriously injuring the pilot and heavily damaging the aircraft.