What happened
On July 3, 1966, a Ka 2 glider, registration HB-465, was involved in an accident at the Olten airfield. The aircraft was being operated in a towed flight configuration when it collided with a fence. The impact resulted in damage to the glider, though the pilot escaped the incident without any injuries.
The investigation
Investigators examined the flight conditions and the configuration of the aircraft leading up to the impact. The inquiry focused on the state of the glider's aerodynamic surfaces during the tow and the subsequent landing phase. The investigation established that the aircraft's spoilers were extended during the period of being towed and throughout the landing approach.
Findings
Technical analysis revealed that the pilot operated the Ka 2 with the spoilers fully deployed without realizing the configuration. This deployment occurred during both the tow phase and the landing sequence, which contributed to the sequence of events leading to the collision with the fence.