Nimbus-3 mushes into forest from a slow low turn on a ridge
The pilot was seriously injured and the Nimbus-3 destroyed when it settled into alpine forest from a low turn. He had set out for a local flight over ground he knew well and worked west along the crests in a band between about 1 950 and 1 668 m MSL. Near a mountain hut he flew two full left circles, a short straight leg, then began a third. The logger shows 65 to 80 km/h while circling, and on entering that turn the sink rose to 5 m/s at about 100 m above the ground. The left wing touched first and swung the glider left; the right wing then struck a tree and came off. He got out unaided.
- Local flight along the crests: The pilot set out from his home field for a local flight and worked west along the crests over ground he knew well.
- Working a band above the ridge: The recorded track keeps him in a height band between roughly 1 950 and 1 668 m MSL as he moves along the high ground.
- Two circles near the hut: Near a mountain hut he flew two full circles to the left, then a short straight leg.
- Third turn entered slow: He began a third left turn. The logger has his airspeed between 65 and 80 km/h through the circling.
- Sink rises to 5 m/s: The rate of descent rose to 5 m/s as the turn was entered, with the glider about 100 m above the ground and little forward speed.
- Into the trees, left wing first: The left wing touched the ground first and swung the glider left; the right wing then struck a tree and separated. The pilot was seriously injured but left the glider unaided.