Colisión en el aire entre S 18 II y Bergfalke II cerca de Muottas Muragl, Suiza

El 27 de julio de 1959, dos planeadores, un AG Wynau S 18 II y un Scheibe-Flugzeugbau GmbH Bergfalke II, colisionaron en el aire cerca de Muottas Muragl, Suiza. La colisión ocurrió a aproximadamente 2500 metros de altitud, resultando en el accidente del Bergfalke II y la muerte de ambos ocupantes. A pesar de sufrir daños significativos, el piloto del S 18 II logró aterrizar con éxito en el aeródromo de Samedan. La investigación concluyó que una observación inadecuada del espacio aéreo por parte de ambos pilotos llevó a la colisión.

1. Winch launch ridge soaring: Both gliders HB-559 and HB-219 were winch-launched from Samedan and climbed in the ridge lift at Muottas Muragl, flying repeated passes near the Muottas-Kulm hotel.
2. High-traffic ridge area: The Muottas Muragl area near Samedan was a popular alpine soaring site with strong lift and frequent glider traffic, increasing the need for vigilant lookout.
3. Converging flight paths: HB-219, having previously seen HB-559 70–80 m above while flying down-valley, turned left back toward Muottas Muragl at about the same time HB-559 flew a wide left turn back over the hotel, placing the aircraft on opposing headings.
4. Inadequate lookout: Neither pilot maintained sufficient airspace observation during their respective left turns, so each failed to detect the other glider in time to avoid conflict.
5. Late sighting head-on: HB-219’s pilot suddenly saw HB-559 immediately ahead on a nearly frontal collision course at about 2500 m, leaving no time or space for effective evasive action.
6. Mid-air structural damage: The gliders collided nearly head-on, breaking off the left wing tip section of HB-559 and heavily damaging the wing root and canopy area of HB-219.
7. Crash - fatal: HB-559 entered an unrecoverable inverted spin and crashed on the west slope of Muottas Muragl killing both occupants, while the damaged HB-219 was recovered to a safe landing near Samedan by its uninjured pilot.