DG 400 hits Alpine ridge after early release and steep losing turn

After striking a north-facing ridge in the Ammergauer Alps at 1,520 m MSL, the pilot of a DG 400 was fatally injured and the aircraft destroyed. An earlier self-launch had been aborted with engine trouble and a hard landing; the pilot was described as stressed. After aerotow from Ohlstadt-Poemetsried, the pilot released without announcement near the Soilasee at 1,690 m MSL, flew about 500 m southwest, gained about 25 m, then entered a left turn at about 50 deg bank with 10 m/s sink and lost 170 m before impact about 10 km north of Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

1. Aerotow to Ammergauer Alpen: DG 400 on aerotow from Ohlstadt-Pömetsried behind an ultralight at 13:34 local, track running toward the Ettaler Manndl in the Ammergauer Alps.
2. Botched self-launch + hard landing: Earlier the same day the pilot had aborted a self-launch due to motor problems and made a hard landing shortly after takeoff.
3. Pilot reported as stressed: A witness at the airfield reported the pilot appeared stressed on the day of the accident, following the earlier botched motor-launch.
4. Unannounced early release at 1,690 m: Near the Soilasee the glider released from the tow unexpectedly early at 1,690 m AMSL without announcing it on the radio.
5. Flew 500 m SW toward the mountain: After release the glider flew about 500 m on a southwesterly heading directly toward the mountain, gaining about 25 m of altitude.
6. Radio: pilot exclaims "Sch…" 3x: About 20 seconds after release the towpilot heard the glider pilot exclaim "Sch…" three times over the radio, then turned back and found the wreckage on the ridge.
7. Steep left turn, -10 m/s, lost 170 m: The glider entered a left turn at about 50° bank with a sink rate of about 10 m/s, losing about 170 m before flying at high speed straight toward the mountain.
8. Impact on N-facing ridge, destroyed: At about 13:55 the glider hit the mountainside about 35 m below the crest of a north-facing ridge at 1,520 m AMSL and was destroyed; the pilot was fatally injured.