Colisión del Karpf Baby durante aterrizaje en campo cerca de Niederhelfenschwil, Suiza

El 20 de agosto de 1965, un planeador Karpf-Flugzeugbau Karpf Baby estuvo involucrado en un incidente cerca de Niederhelfenschwil, Suiza. El piloto intentó un aterrizaje en campo debido a la disminución de térmicas y eligió un campo que no era ideal. Durante el aterrizaje, el planeador colisionó con una cerca y un árbol, resultando en daños a la aeronave. Afortunadamente, no se reportaron heridos. El incidente destaca los desafíos de seleccionar sitios de aterrizaje en campo adecuados en terrenos complejos.

1. Aerotow cross-country: The pilot departed Winterthur by aerotow for his first solo cross-country flight toward Altenrhein in marginal thermal conditions.
2. Thermals fade: Over the Nollen area the already weak thermals abated, leaving the glider without usable lift and forcing the pilot to plan an outlanding.
3. Late field selection: Contrary to recommended practice to commit by 300 m AGL, the pilot changed his initially selected outlanding field at about 200 m above ground in an area with few suitable fields.
4. Short, obstructed field: The ultimately chosen field near Niederhelfenschwil was short, slightly uphill, had trees and a power line on approach, and a road with fence and trees at the far end, with a moderate tailwind in landing direction.
5. Direct low approach: At about 200 m above ground the pilot flew a direct approach over the wooded Eggetsbüel ridge, crossed a high-voltage line at roughly 10 m, and initiated a strong sideslip to lose height.
6. Long float in tailwind: Despite the uphill slope, the glider floated low for a long distance in the tailwind and touched down only about 20 m before the road without being fully held off.
7. Outlanding - damage: During the ground roll the glider crossed the road, struck a wire fence and then collided with an apple tree, damaging the wings but causing no injuries.