Crash d'un Ka 6 lors d'un atterrissage en campagne près d'Eschenbach en raison d'un décrochage

Le 6 juin 1960, un planeur Ka 6 piloté par un aviateur expérimenté s'est écrasé lors d'une tentative d'atterrissage en campagne près d'Eschenbach, en Suisse. Le vol faisait partie d'un parcours de vol à voile visant à obtenir le badge d'argent. Le pilote a rencontré des difficultés lorsque l'appareil a décroché pendant l'approche d'atterrissage, possiblement aggravées par un inconfort dû à la chaleur. Le planeur a été gravement endommagé et le pilote a subi de graves blessures. L'enquête a conclu que l'accident résultait d'un décrochage de l'appareil en dessous de sa vitesse minimale pendant l'approche d'atterrissage.

1. Aerotow cross-country: The pilot aerotowed from Spreitenbach at 11:55 for a silver badge cross-country flight to Mollis, initially climbing normally and reaching about 1200 m above launch.
2. Hot, fatiguing conditions: The flight took place in very hot, sultry weather with an estimated cockpit temperature of 30–40°C, and the pilot had recently shown signs of nervousness and heat intolerance.
3. Low altitude near Eschenbach: After about an hour the glider reached the upper Lake Zurich area, began losing height, and was down to roughly 200–300 m south of Eschenbach.
4. Decision to outland: South of Eschenbach, the pilot decided to abandon the cross-country task and land in the open 'Unterfeld' field, initiating four right-hand 360° turns and then a straight-in approach.
5. Pilot unwell, impaired: During the approach the glider flew increasingly slowly contrary to normal practice, suggesting the pilot was affected by heat-related unwellness and reduced awareness.
6. Low, slow turn to final: At about 20–30 m height the pilot likely initiated a left turn to final, during which the glider decelerated below stall speed and entered a steep bank.
7. Crash - serious injury: The glider stalled and dropped off to the left from low height, impacting the 'Unterfeld' field near a hay wagon, severely damaging the aircraft and seriously injuring the pilot.