Grunau Baby II outlanding near Holderbank results in significant damage
On June 9, 1964, a Grunau Baby II glider experienced an outlanding near Holderbank, Switzerland. The pilot, participating in a training course, encountered unexpected downdrafts which led to a decision to land outside the designated airfield. Despite selecting a suitable landing area, the approach was made with a tailwind, resulting in a hard landing and significant damage to the aircraft. The pilot was unharmed, but the Grunau Baby II was considered a total loss. The investigation noted the pilot's misjudgment in wind direction during the landing.
- Cross-country soaring: During a training week, the pilot launched from Birrfeld in a Grunau Baby II to attempt a five-hour soaring flight and had been airborne for over three hours.
- Strong downdraft encountered: While flying near Wildegg-Holderbank at about 500 m above ground, the glider suddenly encountered strong sink of approximately 4 m/s.
- Low experience level: The young pilot had limited gliding experience, with about 19.5 hours total and only 6.5 hours in the preceding days of the course.
- Abandons return to field: After attempting to head back toward Birrfeld, the pilot realized he no longer had sufficient height to clear the Kestenberg ridge and decided to perform an outlanding instead.
- Tailwind landing approach: The pilot selected a generally suitable field but flew the approach in the wrong direction, landing with a tailwind and in a slipping attitude, apparently without using visible smoke from nearby chimneys to determine wind direction.
- Unstable touchdown: Because of the tailwind and slipping approach, the glider touched down too fast and in poor attitude, leading to loss of control on ground contact.
- Outlanding - damage: The glider broke apart on the off-field landing near Holderbank, sustaining 70–80% structural damage and being written off, while the pilot remained uninjured.