Accidente del Diamant 18 cerca de Heiden resulta en la muerte del piloto
El 5 de julio de 1968, un Glasflügel Diamant 18 se estrelló cerca de Heiden, Suiza, resultando en la muerte del piloto. El piloto, de nacionalidad sueca, había despegado del aeródromo de Altenrhein para un vuelo de orientación. Después de soltar el remolque a aproximadamente 1400 metros, el planeador descendió y se estrelló entre las 17:15 y las 17:20 CET en Bischofsberg. La aeronave fue destruida en el impacto. La investigación concluyó que el piloto probablemente perdió el control, aunque las razones exactas siguen sin determinarse.
- Aerotow climb: The pilot launched by aerotow from Altenrhein at 1706 MEZ for an orientation flight in the Diamant 18, following the previously flown test-flight tow route.
- Early tow release: Around 1715 MEZ, in calm air near St. Anton at about 1400 m MSL (roughly 1000 m above Altenrhein), the pilot unexpectedly released from tow earlier than planned.
- Undocumented flight path: After release the glider flew out of sight of the tow pilot and no witnesses could later reconstruct the subsequent flight path until shortly before impact.
- Low hillside flight: Shortly before the accident the glider was observed flying along the steep north slope of Bischofsberg roughly 100 m or less above the ground, heading from the ski lift area toward the northeast.
- Loss of control descent: Witnesses reported apparent wing flexing or perceived flutter noises, after which the glider descended and impacted the slope in an almost vertical, left-turning attitude, indicating loss of control at low height.
- Crash - fatal: The glider struck the north slope of Bischofsberg nearly vertically and was destroyed, fatally injuring the pilot.