Aterrizaje en campo de un Ka 8B cerca de Lausana resulta en daños graves y lesiones al piloto
El 9 de julio de 1967, un Alexander Schleicher Ka 8B realizó un aterrizaje en campo cerca de Lausana, Suiza. El piloto intentó aterrizar en un campo tras no encontrar suficiente sustentación, pero perdió el control durante la aproximación de aterrizaje. El planeador impactó contra el suelo, causando daños significativos al fuselaje. El piloto sufrió lesiones en la cabeza, el brazo y la pelvis y fue hospitalizado durante cinco semanas. El incidente fue investigado por las autoridades locales, confirmando una pérdida de control como la causa inmediata.
- Aerotow — thermaling: After aerotow departure from La Blécherette, the pilot released in lift near Epalinges and climbed to about 1400 m before continuing the soaring flight.
- Weak, turbulent lift: In the area between Chalet-à-Gobet, Savigny and the Monts-de-Pully the pilot encountered sink and only weak or absent thermals, with bise wind and gusty, agitated air.
- Delayed outlanding decision: The pilot continued searching for lift until he was down to about 200 m above ground near a forming cumulus, leaving insufficient height margin for a well-planned field landing.
- Low-altitude field approach: Unable to regain the aerodrome at low height, the pilot committed to an off-field landing in a meadow below the Lausanne–Savigny road near Les Trois Chasseurs.
- Gusty approach, low speed: During the circuit to the chosen field in gusty bise conditions, the pilot flew the base and final with insufficient airspeed, retracting partially extended airbrakes when he realized his relative speed was low.
- Stall and nose drop: At about 10 m above ground the glider stalled, dropped its left wing and nose, and entered a steep, quarter-turn descent before striking the ground.
- Crash - serious injury: The glider impacted a maize field near the intended landing area, severely damaging the forward fuselage and seriously injuring the pilot with head, arm, and pelvic fractures.