Ka 6 outlanding incident near Schmidigen, Switzerland, results in aircraft damage
On June 4, 1966, an Alexander Schleicher Ka 6 CR experienced an outlanding near Schmidigen, Switzerland. The pilot, who had approximately 195 hours of gliding experience, landed the aircraft on a mown field during a competition flight. During the rollout, the pilot had to make a sharp turn to avoid a forest edge, causing the left wing to catch in a nearby grain field. This maneuver resulted in damage to the aircraft's tail section, although the pilot remained uninjured. The investigation concluded that the choice of landing site was unsuitable.
- Cross-country cruise: During a competition cross-country flight from Bleienbach, the pilot was cruising in the local area when soaring conditions no longer allowed continuation of the task.
- Forced outlanding needed: With insufficient altitude or conditions to continue the flight, the pilot was forced to select a field for an outlanding near Schmidigen.
- Unsuitable field chosen: The pilot selected a mown field that was short, sloping down toward a forest edge and bordered by a 60 cm high grain crop, whose full configuration was apparently not recognized from the air.
- Landing on short field: The pilot successfully touched down the Ka-6 on the chosen mown strip as intended and began the landing roll.
- Sharp turn on rollout: During the rollout, the pilot applied a strong turn to avoid continuing straight into the sloping ground and nearby forest edge.
- Wing catches in crop: While turning, the left wing entered the adjacent 60 cm high grain field, causing the glider to be abruptly yanked around.
- Outlanding - damage: The abrupt yaw damaged the tail section of the glider during the outlanding, while the pilot remained uninjured.