Grob Twin III dives into forest after losing control while thermalling low

The pilot of a Grob Twin III was killed when the glider crashed into a forest near Bartholomä-Amalienhof; the aircraft was destroyed. After a winch launch to about 350 m above the ground for a local thermal flight, the recently licensed pilot circled several times over a wooded ridge southwest of the airfield. Witnesses last saw the glider at about 200 m above the ground before it pitched steeply nose-down and dropped almost vertically into the forest. A strong westerly wind was producing lee turbulence over the higher ground. The investigation found no technical defect.

1. Winch launch for a thermal flight: A recently licensed pilot launched by winch to about 350 m above the ground for a private local thermal flight near the airfield.
2. Strong westerly wind, lee turbulence: A strong west wind was producing orographic lee turbulence that a knowledgeable witness described as making the western circuit demanding.
3. Circling low over a wooded ridge: The glider circled repeatedly over a wooded ridge southwest of the field; a witness saw it at about 200 m and expected a landing approach.
4. Steep nose-down, near-vertical descent: Moments later the glider pitched steeply nose-down and descended almost vertically toward the forest; the flight-path recording ended.
5. Crashed into forest; pilot killed: The glider struck the forest and was destroyed, and the pilot was killed. No technical defect was found.