What happened
On April 9, 1965, a Ka-8 glider, registered as HB-765, was performing a landing approach at the Bleienbach aerodrome in the canton of Bern. During the final stages of the descent, the aircraft encountered a localized rain shower. This weather disturbance significantly impacted the pilot's ability to maintain visual references. Consequently, the glider touched down on terrain that was unsuitable for landing, located short of the actual runway.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the circumstances surrounding the approach and the impact of environmental conditions on the flight path. The inquiry established that the sudden onset of precipitation during the landing phase led to a misjudgment of the aircraft's position relative to the landing strip. While the aircraft suffered heavy damage, estimated at approximately 20-25% of its total value, the pilot escaped the incident without any injuries.