Hui, that was really tight: a glider pilot (75) during an emergency landing in ST. Florian am Inn (Upper Austria) flies his plane with a wingspan of 25 meters under a high voltage power line. But the professional managed to pull off the life-threatening maneuver.
The incident happened at 2:45 p.m. on Thursday, but is only now known. At that time, the police were informed that a glider had crashed in a field in St. Florian am Inn, Gopperding. There was one person on the plane. Police patrols, an ambulance and the rescue service and the fire brigade of St. Florian am Inn drove to the scene of the accident.
The pilot had climbed out of the cockpit under his own power
When rescuers arrived, the 75-year-old German pilot had already freed himself from the cockpit of the two-seater glider and was apparently unharmed. The experienced pilot stated that he had taken off from Suben airfield and was being towed by another powered aircraft.
Desired height not reached
However, the intended flight altitude of 1000 meters for unloading the towing process was not achieved. At an altitude of about 500 meters, the tug overtook the glider significantly and both aircraft quickly lost speed. To prevent an uncontrolled crash of both machines, the glider released at 500 meters.
Bad thermals
Due to the poor thermals, it was no longer possible for the pilot to reach the take-off airfield of Suben from this height. He therefore tried to unfold the folding engine, which is used as an emergency engine in this type of glider, and to start the engine.
“Controlled Outlanding”
However, it could not be started immediately and the pilot initiated a so-called controlled outlanding. The landing gear could also no longer be extended due to lack of time and the low height.
25 meter wingspan
Because the terrain in this area is almost impossible to land, the pilot had to maneuver the plane, which had a wingspan of 25 meters, under a power line and then crash-landed on a cornfield below. Property damage was done to the aircraft for an undisclosed amount.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
