Nimbus-2C catches trees turning off a ridge in slope soaring
The pilot was lightly injured and his Nimbus-2C destroyed when the right wing caught trees turning away from a ridge. He had set out from his home field with no fixed destination, flying what the weather offered, and had reached ground he knew well about 122 km out. Circling low south of the ridge to climb before turning for home, he banked left and away to the west; the slope-side wing touched the treetops. The glider went into the hillside at about 90 km/h on 40-degree ground, then slid until the outer wings snagged on trunks. He got out unaided. Hikers heard the impact and called for help; a helicopter winched him off.
- Cross-country with no fixed goal: The pilot took an aerotow from his home field for a cross-country, choosing his route by the weather rather than to a set destination.
- Into familiar alpine ground: About 122 km out he reached an area he knew well, and worked towards a climb that would let him turn for home.
- Circling low below the ridge: He circled close to the ground on the south side of the ridge, below the crest, to gain the height he needed.
- Turn away to the west: He banked left to leave the ridge and head west, bringing the right wing round towards the slope.
- Slope-side wing touches trees: The right wing, the one facing the slope, caught the tops of sparse larch and mountain pine at the treeline.
- Into the hillside at the treeline: The glider struck the 40-degree slope nose-up-hill at about 90 km/h and slid until the outer wings caught on trunks. The pilot was lightly injured and got out unaided.