What happened
On July 29, 1968, a Ka 8 B glider, registration HB-764, was conducting a performance flight as part of a gliding camp near Zweisimmen. After climbing to approximately 2700 meters, the pilot decided to return to base near the Col du Pillon. While flying through the Saanen valley, the pilot searched for rising air but was unable to find sufficient lift. Near Gstaad, the aircraft encountered a downdisturbance of approximately 3 meters, making it impossible to reach the Saanen airfield.
With the aircraft at an altitude of only 100 to 150 meters above the ground, the pilot decided to perform an off-field landing on a meadow located on the northern edge of Gstaad. Because the initial approach was approximately 15 meters too high, the pilot attempted to execute a 270-degree right-hand turn to realign the aircraft with the landing strip. During this low-altitude maneuver, the left wing of the Ka 8 B struck a wooden utility pole. The impact caused the aircraft to be violently jerked to the left, leading to an uncontrolled touchdown on the meadow. The aircraft eventually came to a halt after striking a barn wall.
The investigation
The investigation examined the technical condition of the Ka 8 B, which was found to be in good working order with no mechanical defects. The pilot, who held a valid license and had approximately 66 hours of flight experience, was uninjured in the accident. The investigation also reviewed the environmental conditions, noting a high-pressure system with light winds and a cloud base at 2700 meters. The terrain around the chosen landing site was noted to contain various houses, fences, and electrical lines.
Findings
The investigation concluded that the primary cause of the accident was pilot error during the landing approach. The decision to perform the off-field landing was made too late, at an altitude of only 100-150 meters, rather than at a safer altitude of at least 300 meters. This late decision left the pilot with very limited options and insufficient time to plan the maneuver. Consequently, the pilot attempted a hurried approach and misjudged the glide path, leading to the collision with the utility pole during the corrective turn.