Ka 4 Rhönlerche collision with power lines during approach at Bern/Belpmoos airfield
On April 2, 1967, an Alexander Schleicher Ka 4 Rhönlerche II was involved in an incident at Bern/Belpmoos airfield in Switzerland. The pilot, who had limited recent flying experience, attempted to avoid an outlanding by flying over power lines approximately 500 meters before the runway. During this maneuver, the glider collided with a 15-meter-high power line mast. The pilot was unharmed, but the glider sustained significant damage.
- Approach to landing: During the landing approach to Bern/Belpmoos, the glider was on final about half a kilometre before the runway.
- Low recent experience: The pilot was relatively inexperienced and had interrupted his flying activity for a longer period before this flight.
- Desire to avoid outlanding: To avoid an off-field landing, the pilot decided to continue toward the airfield despite being low and approaching power lines.
- Attempt to overfly wires: About 500 m before the runway threshold, the pilot dove to gain speed and then pulled up in an attempt to overfly three electrical lines.
- Collision with mast: During the pull-up, the glider struck the mast of the first 15 m high power line.
- Crash - no injury: The glider was significantly damaged in the collision with the power line mast, but the pilot remained uninjured.