What happened
On June 5, 1972, at approximately 10:42 AM, a pilot departed from the Schaffhausen airfield to perform a triangular cross-country flight. While en route to the destination of Seebach, located near Oberkirch in West Germany, the pilot was forced to perform an out-of-field landing at coordinates 08°11’E / 48°35'N.
During the landing roll across the terrain, the left wing of the Elfe S-3, registration HB-902, caught on the edge of a grain crop that was approximately 60 cm in height. This contact triggered a sudden rotation, causing the aircraft to execute a ground loop. The aircraft sustained heavy damage, though the pilot escaped the incident without injury. No third-party property damage was reported.
The investigation
Investigators reviewed the flight history and maintenance records of the Elfe S-3. The pilot, who held a valid glider license and possessed 523 total flight hours, had significant experience with this specific model, having flown it for 100 hours, including 43 hours within the 90 days preceding the accident. The investigation confirmed that the aircraft, HB-902, was properly registered and had been maintained according to regulations.