What happened
On August 18, 1962, a Ka-7 glider, registration D-8824, departed from Samedan for a soaring flight in the Upper Engadin region. The aircraft was accompanied by a passenger, the pilot's father. After approximately two and a half hours of flight, the pilot decided to return to the starting point.
While navigating the terrain near the Munt Pers, the pilot executed a wide right-hand turn over the Pers Glacier toward Piz Palü. During this maneuver, the aircraft lost altitude. In an attempt to regain height by flying closer to the slope, the pilot followed the contour of the terrain. At approximately 15:40, the aircraft struck a telephone line consisting of two steel cables. The impact caused the cables to tear from their supports and damaged the aircraft's canopy and left wing. Following the collision, the glider struck a rock face at a steep angle and overturned, coming to rest on its back. The impact resulted in the total destruction of the aircraft.
The investigation
The investigation examined the flight path, the technical condition of the Ka-7, and the environmental factors at the crash site. Investigators found that the aircraft's weight and center of gravity were within limits and no technical defects were present prior to the accident. The terrain near the Diavolezza Hut features a steep scree slope that can make depth perception difficult due to a lack of prominent landmarks. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's training, noting significant experience in alpine soaring.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the collision with a telephone line.
- The pilot failed to maintain a safe altitude above the terrain.
- The pilot's ability to judge distance was likely compromised by the monotonous appearance of the scree slope, which made the terrain features difficult to perceive.
- The telephone cables, positioned between 15 and 23 meters above the ground, were nearly impossible to detect at close range due to the lack of visible poles or landmarks in the immediate vicinity.
- Both the pilot and the passenger sustained serious injuries, including spinal injuries and fractures.