Accident Overview
On 4 June 1966, a Schleicher Ka-6 glider, registration HB-755, operated by the Segelfluggruppe Olten, sustained damage during an outlanding near Schmidigen, Switzerland. The pilot, born in 1943, was not injured.
Aircraft and Pilot Information
The glider held a valid airworthiness certificate. Ownership and operation were by the Segelfluggruppe Olten. No evidence suggested the aircraft was not in airworthy condition. The pilot held a valid glider pilot license and had approximately 195 hours of gliding experience.
Accident Sequence
The pilot was flying a competition flight from Bleienbach airfield when he deemed it necessary to perform an outlanding. He selected a mowed field measuring approximately 15 meters by 90 meters, which sloped toward a forest edge. The landing was executed as intended, but during the rollout, the pilot had to make a sharp turn to avoid continuing straight into sloping terrain and, after about 20 meters, a forest edge. During this turn, the left wing entered a field of crops approximately 60 centimeters high. This caused the glider to be jerked around, resulting in damage to the fuselage tail.
Weather and Investigation
Weather had no direct influence on the accident. The investigation noted that the pilot likely did not fully recognize the configuration of the landing site from the air, and it may not have been possible to do so.
Probable Cause
The accident was attributed to the selection of unsuitable landing terrain.