Collision en vol entre Bergfalke II et Ka 2b près de Muottas Muragl, Suisse

Le 10 août 1960, une collision en vol s'est produite entre un Scheibe Bergfalke II et un Alexander Schleicher Ka 2b près de Muottas Muragl, en Suisse. Les deux planeurs effectuaient des vols alpins indépendants lorsqu'ils sont entrés en collision frontale à environ 2800 mètres d'altitude. Le pilote du Bergfalke II a réussi à se mettre en sécurité en parachute, tandis que le Ka 2b a réussi à retourner au terrain d'aviation de Samedan mais a été détruit à l'atterrissage. Tous les pilotes impliqués s'en sont sortis sans blessure grave. L'enquête a conclu que la surveillance insuffisante de l'espace aérien par les deux équipages a conduit à la collision.

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.