Karpf Baby collision with telephone line during outlanding near Heuheim, Switzerland
On June 7, 1964, a Karpf-Flugzeugbau Karpf Baby experienced an incident near Heuheim, Switzerland. The pilot, with limited experience, was forced to select a landing site surrounded by obstacles after losing altitude. During the landing approach, the glider collided with a telephone line, causing significant damage to the right wing and minor injuries to the pilot. The pilot suffered a concussion and was unable to work for about a month. The report confirmed that the collision occurred during an emergency landing attempt.
- Aerotow cross-country: The pilot aerotowed from Hausen a/A and began local soaring, following other gliders southeast toward Baar.
- Unnoticed height loss: While searching for lift near Baar, the pilot failed to notice in time that he had descended into sinking air and his altitude had reduced to about 400 m above ground.
- Low experience: The pilot had limited gliding experience (about 13 hours in 78 flights), which contributed to being surprised by the rapid height loss and late decision-making.
- Limited landing options: By the time the pilot decided to land, he was low over hilly terrain where the best field was unusable due to people haymaking, leaving only a marginal field surrounded by obstacles.
- Forced landing decision: With no prospect of regaining height and unable to return to the home airfield, the pilot committed to a forced landing in a small valley field bordered by power and telephone lines and nearby houses.
- Obstacle approach: During the final approach, the pilot pulled up to clear a high-voltage line, reducing airspeed so much that the glider became almost uncontrollable as he tried to avoid nearby houses and other obstacles.
- Crash - minor injury: The glider struck a telephone line, the right wing caught on a pole and the left wingtip hit the ground, causing substantial wing damage, and the pilot, believing he was in a high-voltage line, jumped 3–4 m to the ground and sustained a concussion and shock.