Ka 8B crash during landing near Villars-le-Terroir, Switzerland, with no injuries
On May 5, 1968, an Alexander Schleicher Ka 8B experienced a crash landing near Villars-le-Terroir, Switzerland. The pilot attempted to land in a field after encountering difficulties returning to the airfield. During the final approach, the glider lost control and impacted the ground, causing significant damage to the fuselage and right wing. Fortunately, the pilot emerged uninjured. The investigation attributed the accident to a loss of control due to insufficient approach speed.
- Aerotow local flight: The pilot aerotowed from Lausanne-Blécherette for a local training flight and released at about 1000 m above ground near Assens.
- Unable to reach airfield: After encountering very weak lift and increasingly strong sink, the pilot realized he could no longer return to Lausanne-Blécherette and committed to an outlanding near Villars-le-Terroir.
- Non-standard circuit: The pilot conducted the field landing pattern using two 360° turns and a single 180° turn rather than the standard rectangular circuit recommended for outlandings.
- Low approach speed: On final with airbrakes half extended, the pilot likely pulled back progressively on the stick to ensure clearance over a 15 m tree line, reducing the Ka-8B to an insufficient approach speed.
- Stall and nose drop: Immediately after clearing the trees, the glider abruptly pitched down and stalled, with no effective response to the pilot’s aft stick input.
- Crash - no injury: The glider struck the ground at about a 30° angle with the right wing and nose, rebounded, and came to rest in the field with severe fuselage and right wing damage, while the pilot was uninjured.