Incident WLM-1 lors de l'approche à l'aérodrome de Neuchâtel entraîne des blessures graves

Le 15 mars 1969, un planeur WLM-1 a été impliqué dans un accident près de l'aérodrome de Neuchâtel en Suisse. Le pilote, sous la supervision d'un instructeur, effectuait un vol de transition lorsque le planeur est entré en vrille pendant la phase d'approche. L'appareil s'est écrasé, entraînant des blessures graves pour le pilote et la destruction du planeur. L'enquête officielle a conclu que l'accident avait été causé par une perte de vitesse due à une manœuvre inadéquate, probablement en raison du manque de formation et d'expérience du pilote.

1. Aerotow approach training: During a supervised transition flight on the WLM-1, the pilot completed a normal aerotow and positioned for the approach after a right-hand circuit over the lake.
2. Low recent experience: The pilot was relatively low-time and had suspended glider flying for about seven and a half months, having made only one short refresher flight before this transition to a more advanced glider.
3. Low approach altitude: The pilot was at an estimated 200–300 m AGL near the threshold, significantly lower than the 600 m altitude specified by the instructor for practicing a stall and loss-of-speed exercise.
4. Steep pitch-up to slow: While on the downwind/approach side of the circuit, the pilot pitched the glider up by about 13–15 degrees, apparently to reduce speed or perform the instructed loss-of-speed maneuver at this low height.
5. Flaps used improperly: Contrary to the instructor’s directions to perform the loss-of-speed exercise without flaps, the pilot had the flaps at about 30 degrees, increasing the risk of an abrupt stall at the chosen speed and attitude.
6. Stall and spin entry: At the pitch-up and subsequent nose drop, the glider stalled and immediately entered a right-hand spin from low altitude, with no corrective action observed by witnesses.
7. Crash - serious injury: After three to four turns of the spin, the glider impacted the ground at a steep nose-down attitude and was destroyed, and the pilot sustained serious injuries.