Ka 8B aterriza corto en el aeródromo de Olten, causando daños
El 27 de abril de 1968, un Alexander Schleicher K 8B estuvo involucrado en un incidente en el aeródromo de Olten en Suiza. Durante la aproximación final, el planeador aterrizó corto de la pista y realizó un aterrizaje de emergencia en una gravera cercana al aeródromo. El piloto, que había reanudado recientemente el vuelo después de una pausa, resultó ileso, pero el planeador sufrió daños significativos. La investigación señaló que el piloto juzgó mal el efecto de las condiciones de viento predominantes, lo que contribuyó al incidente.
- Aerotow cross-country: After an aerotow to about 500 m above Olten, the pilot climbed in lift to around 1100 m and drifted toward the Aarau area before returning toward Olten.
- Low recent experience: The pilot had only about 40 hours total gliding experience and was flying solo after a 1½‑year interruption in his training.
- Headwind on return: On the return leg from the Aarau area the pilot encountered significant headwind, reducing his groundspeed and usable range.
- Misjudged wind in circuit: Arriving north abeam the runway threshold at about 210 m indicated altitude, the pilot planned a standard circuit but misjudged the effect of the southwest wind on his groundspeed and required height.
- Continued low final: He turned from downwind through base onto final for runway 23, allowing the approach to become too low under the prevailing wind conditions instead of adjusting his pattern or selecting an earlier landing area.
- Attempted berm landing: Realizing he could not reach the runway, the pilot attempted to land on the upper edge of the gravel pit about 100–120 m before the threshold, turning left close to the ground.
- Outlanding - damage: During the low left turn the wingtip struck the ground, resulting in a crash landing on the slope of the gravel pit that significantly damaged the glider but left the pilot uninjured.