What happened
On September 16, 1964, at approximately 14:15 CET, a pilot initiated a solo winch-launch flight from Samedan Airfield in a Ka 2b glider, registration HB-645. The intention was to perform a ridge soaring flight along the Muottas-Muragl slope. During the launch, the climb rate became insufficient, causing the aircraft's speed to increase significantly and forcing the winch operator to reduce power. The pilot released the cable at an altitude of only approximately 200 meters above ground level.
Despite the low altitude, the pilot proceeded toward the Muottas-Muragl slope. While flying toward the railway tracks, the aircraft encountered Lee-side turbulence and sinking air. In an attempt to compensate for the loss of altitude, the pilot likely pulled back on the controls, causing the glider to sink further. At approximately 14:18 CET, the left wing struck the treetops, resulting in the loss of one-third of the wing structure. The Ka 2b then plummeted roughly 40 meters, striking the ground near the Muragl stream. The impact caused severe injuries to the pilot, including multiple spinal fractures, and resulted in the near-total destruction of the aircraft.
The investigation
The investigation examined the pilot's flight experience, the aircraft's technical condition, and the meteorological environment. Investigators found that the Ka 2b was in airworthy condition and had been inspected shortly before the accident. The pilot's training on this specific model was limited, and while he had recently completed training in the Engadin region, he had never performed a winch launch in a Ka 2b prior to this event.
Findings
- The pilot had insufficient experience with winch-launching the Ka 2b model, having not performed such a maneuver in a similar aircraft for approximately one year.
- The release altitude of 200–250 meters was critically low for the prevailing 15–20 knot southwest winds.
- The pilot failed to execute a standard landing pattern (Volte) despite realizing the low altitude.
- The aircraft encountered significant turbulence and sinking air near the slope, which the pilot likely underestimated due to limited experience in such conditions.