Accidente de un SHK 1 durante maniobras a baja altitud cerca de Piz Murtel, Suiza

El 19 de julio de 1969, un Schempp-Hirth SHK 1 se estrelló cerca de Piz Murtel, Suiza, mientras intentaba evitar los cables de un teleférico. El piloto, que volaba a baja altitud, perdió el control y entró en una barrena. A pesar de recuperarse de la barrena, el planeador impactó en una ladera cubierta de nieve, resultando en heridas graves para el piloto y la destrucción de la aeronave. La investigación confirmó que no había fallos técnicos en el planeador, y el accidente se atribuyó a la pérdida de control del piloto durante la maniobra.

1. Ridge soaring flight: After a winch launch from Samedan, the pilot conducted ridge and mountain soaring, eventually arriving near the Corvatsch ridge slightly above crest height and then flying along the west side.
2. Low height near cables: The pilot began circling in weak lift only about 50 m above the Corvatsch cable car upper station, in close proximity to the cable car wires and terrain.
3. High weight, aft CG: The glider was about 7 kg over maximum permitted weight with the center of gravity in the rear part of the allowable range, conditions known to influence stall and spin behavior.
4. Tight turn to avoid cables: When he sank to around ridge height and perceived a risk of getting close to the cable car wires, the pilot tightened a left turn by increasing bank from about 30° to 45° while simultaneously pulling back on the stick.
5. Stall and spin entry: The increased bank and back pressure at low speed led to exceeding the critical angle of attack, causing buffet and an abrupt wing drop into a right spin from low altitude.
6. Spin recovery attempt: The pilot applied recovery inputs and succeeded in stopping the spin after roughly three-quarters of a turn, but remained very close to the snow-covered slope.
7. Crash - serious injury: With insufficient height remaining to complete the recovery and flare, the glider impacted the 36° snow slope nose-first at about 100 km/h near Piz Murtel, seriously injuring the pilot and destroying the aircraft.