SZD-22C crash during outlanding attempt near Lostorf, Switzerland
On June 11, 1969, an SZD SZD-22C experienced a crash during an outlanding attempt near Lostorf, Switzerland. The pilot, on his first cross-country flight, decided to land outside of an airfield but initiated the maneuver too late. The glider stalled in a low-altitude turn, resulting in a crash. The pilot sustained severe injuries and passed away a week later. The aircraft was destroyed, but no third-party damage occurred.
- Aerotow cross-country: The pilot launched by aerotow from Schupfart for his first 50 km cross-country flight toward Grenchen and released at 400 m AGL before climbing in lift.
- Low cross-country experience: The pilot had no prior cross-country experience and only one recorded outlanding, reducing his familiarity with off-field landing tactics.
- Late outlanding decision: As his height reserve steadily decreased en route, the pilot delayed committing to an outlanding until he was at very low altitude, leaving insufficient time for proper field selection and circuit planning.
- Obstacle appears on approach: After overflying a 55 m high power line with only 10–20 m clearance in a low, into-wind approach, the pilot apparently first recognized a second, lower power line directly ahead in his intended landing path.
- Tight low-altitude turn: To avoid the second power line and attempt to land under the first line on a nearby field, the pilot initiated a sharp right turn at very low height, turning from into-wind toward downwind.
- Stall in low turn: During the tight right turn in strong easterly wind, the glider lost airspeed, appeared to momentarily hang almost motionless, then entered a near-vertical nose-down attitude and departed controlled flight.
- Crash - fatal: The glider impacted the field nose-first at about 70° pitch with no bank, destroying the aircraft and inflicting severe injuries from which the pilot died a week later.