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Collision with Maize Field During Rainy Landing at Wittinsburg (HB-969)

Wittinsburg, BL, CH

On August 20, 2016, an ALEXANDER SCHLEICHER OHG SEGELFLUGZEUGBAU RHÖNLERCHE II (registration HB-969) was involved in an aviation accident near Wittinsburg, BL, CH. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot underestimated the influence of rain on visibility through the cockpit canopy, resulting in loss of visual reference to the runway and collision with the maize field before the runway threshold. This summary draws on records from the Swiss Transportation Safety Investigation Board (STSB / SUST).

Sourcesthe Swiss Transportation Safety Investigation Board (STSB / SUST)Primary reportUpdated 2026-10-18Data APIEditorial standards

On 20 August 2016, a Rhönlerche II glider, HB-969, operated by Segelfluggruppe Basel Fricktal, collided with a maize field during landing in rain, sustaining minor damage. The pilot and passenger were uninjured.

Accident Overview

On the evening of 20 August 2016, a Rhönlerche II glider with registration HB-969 was involved in a landing accident at the Wittinsburg airfield in Basel-Landschaft, Switzerland. The aircraft was operated by the Segelfluggruppe Basel Fricktal and was conducting a passenger flight as part of the Wittinsburger Flugtage airshow. The pilot held a valid sailplane pilot license (SPL) issued by the Federal Office of Civil Aviation (BAZL) and had accumulated 1,372 total flight hours, with 24 hours and 7 minutes on the accident aircraft type.

Sequence of Events

The glider launched via winch on runway 28 under overcast skies with a cloud base of approximately 150 m AGL and light drizzle. After reaching a release height of about 120 m AGL, the pilot immediately entered a right crosswind leg for the same runway. During the final turn at roughly 80 m AGL, rain intensified, and visibility through the canopy decreased. The pilot reported losing all visual reference to the runway in the final part of the approach. Subsequently, the glider's left wing struck a maize field in front of the runway. The aircraft then rotated about 90 degrees to the left in the air before touching down with its landing skid perpendicular to the runway direction, just a few meters before the runway markings. It slid across the grass runway, continuing to rotate, and came to rest nearly aligned with runway 28.

Aircraft and Pilot Information

The glider, an Alexander Schleicher Rhönlerche II (HB-969), sustained light damage: the landing skid broke, fuselage fairing tore, left wing bow and wing root were compressed, and the lower wing covering was torn. No third-party damage occurred. The pilot, a Swiss citizen born in 1963, had flown 33 hours and 42 minutes in the last 90 days, including 4 hours and 19 minutes on the accident type. The passenger was not injured.

Investigation Conclusion

The investigation concluded that the pilot underestimated the influence of rain on visibility through the canopy, which led to the loss of visual reference to the runway and subsequent collision with the maize field before the runway threshold.

Probable cause

The pilot underestimated the influence of rain on visibility through the cockpit canopy, resulting in loss of visual reference to the runway and collision with the maize field before the runway threshold.
Controlled flight into terrain

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 20 Aug 2016 ALEXANDER SCHLEICHER OHG SEGELFLUGZEUGBAU RHÖNLERCHE II accident near Wittinsburg, BL, CH?

On 20 August 2016, a Rhönlerche II glider, HB-969, operated by Segelfluggruppe Basel Fricktal, collided with a maize field during landing in rain, sustaining minor damage. The pilot and passenger were uninjured.

Were there any fatalities in the 20 Aug 2016 ALEXANDER SCHLEICHER OHG SEGELFLUGZEUGBAU RHÖNLERCHE II accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 20 Aug 2016 involved an ALEXANDER SCHLEICHER OHG SEGELFLUGZEUGBAU RHÖNLERCHE II, registration HB-969, at Wittinsburg, BL, CH.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot underestimated the influence of rain on visibility through the cockpit canopy, resulting in loss of visual reference to the runway and collision with the maize field before the runway threshold.

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