What happened
On May 20, 1962, a pilot operating a DFS Meise glider, registration HB-385, departed from Blécherette for a cross-country flight toward Bern. After being towed by a Moth DH 60, the pilot released the towline near the Vernand forest. While initially finding some lift, the pilot soon encountered strong sink and localized weather instability, including rain and wind gusts.
Unable to return to the departure airfield due to the deteriorating conditions and the presence of high-voltage power lines, the pilot decided to perform an emergency landing in a pasture near Cugy. During the final approach, the pilot executed a tight turn to align with the terrain. During this maneuver, the aircraft encountered a sudden tailwind gust, which led to a critical loss of airspeed. Despite the pilot's attempt to push the control stick forward to regain speed, the aircraft's altitude dropped too rapidly. The glider cleared the first wire fence but struck heavy oak posts of a second fence, resulting in the destruction of the aircraft's forward fuselage and wings.
The investigation
An investigation was conducted by the federal commission to determine the circumstances of the impact. Investigators examined the wreckage, which had been moved to the Blécherette hangars, and noted that the forward section of the fuselage and the wing structures were heavily damaged by the impact with the wooden fence posts. The investigation also reviewed the aircraft's maintenance history, noting that control cables had been recently replaced in early 1962. Meteorological data and local reports confirmed the presence of unstable weather and wind gusts in the area at the time of the accident. The pilot, who was uninjured, provided testimony regarding the difficulty of determining wind direction in the absence of visible indicators like smoke or flags.