Aircraft and Pilot
The glider was a Ka-8 B, registration HB-663, built in 1959 and owned by the Segelfluggruppe Bern. No pre-existing technical defects were found. The pilot, born 1946, held a glider pilot license with towing endorsement since August 13, 1969, and had accumulated 54 flight hours and 123 landings, with 36 hours and 24 minutes in the preceding three months.
Flight Details
On July 22, 1971, the pilot departed Saanen airfield at 1156 local time under tow, aiming for a cross-country flight to qualify for the FAI silver badge. He released over Les Rodomonts at 1400 m approximately 3 km northwest of Saanen. After a 2.5-hour flight, he reached the Entlebuch region, having climbed to 2600 m near Marbach, about 13 km southwest of Schüpfheim.
Accident Sequence
Over Schüpfheim, the pilot circled and decided to land on a small field west of the Little Emme river. He reduced altitude nearby and approached from the west. The field lay at the foot of a slope, which the pilot had not noticed. The approach was steep due to the terrain, and he touched down at high speed. During the rollout, the glider bounced over two ground undulations and, after approximately 127 m, struck a barn with its right wing.
Weather and Terrain
Weather conditions included 4/8 cumulus cloud at 2500-3000 m, visibility over 20 km, light and variable winds, and a temperature of 23°C. The terrain consisted of hilly ground west of the river, with the selected field approximately 200 m long but uneven in its last third and obstructed by a steep drop on final approach. The river valley east of the Little Emme offered several excellent landing areas.
Damage and Injuries
The pilot was uninjured. The glider sustained a left wing spar break at the aileron attachment due to dynamic overload on the uneven ground, a right wing break from the barn impact, and a smashed plexiglass canopy from a falling tile. The barn door was damaged.
Conclusion
The investigation concluded that the forced landing resulted from the pilot's selection of an unsuitable landing field.