Colisión en el aire entre Bergfalke II y Ka 2b cerca de Muottas Muragl, Suiza

El 10 de agosto de 1960, ocurrió una colisión en el aire entre un Scheibe Bergfalke II y un Alexander Schleicher Ka 2b cerca de Muottas Muragl, Suiza. Ambas aeronaves realizaban vuelos alpinos independientes cuando chocaron de frente a aproximadamente 2800 metros de altitud. El piloto del Bergfalke II logró salvarse con un salto en paracaídas, mientras que el Ka 2b logró regresar al aeródromo de Samedan pero fue destruido al aterrizar. Todos los pilotos involucrados escaparon sin lesiones graves. La investigación concluyó que la insuficiente vigilancia del espacio aéreo por parte de ambas tripulaciones llevó a la colisión.

1. Alpine soaring flight: The Bergfalke II HB-529 departed Samedan by winch launch for an alpine soaring flight and spent over an hour ridge and thermal soaring in the Muottas–Piz Albris–Piz Languard area.
2. Pilot unwell earlier: While flying in turbulent air behind the Schafberg the HB-529 pilot became nauseated and vomited before recovering and deciding to return toward the Schafberg area.
3. Converging ridge traffic: Multiple gliders, including HB-529 and Ka 2b HB-606, were independently using the same Schafberg–Piz Languard lift band, occasionally in mutual sight but without coordinated procedures.
4. Inadequate lookout: During straight flight near the Segantini hut both crews failed to detect the opposing glider in time, resulting in only a last-instant sighting at about 50–70 m separation.
5. Head-on collision: HB-529 and HB-606 collided almost head-on at about 2800 m, their left wing leading edges striking and the Ka 2b’s separated wingtip then destroying the Bergfalke’s fin and rudder.
6. Loss of control HB-529: With its vertical tail torn off, HB-529 became effectively uncontrollable, drifted over the Schafberg crest into lee, and the pilot bailed out by parachute before the glider crashed on the slope.
7. Crash - minor injury: HB-529 was destroyed in the mountains after the pilot’s parachute escape and HB-606 broke up during a landing attempt at Samedan, with all pilots uninjured except for a minor foot sprain.