Student thermals low in LS 1f, loses 230 m in 24 s, hits trees

A student pilot on a first flight on an LS 1f was lightly injured when the glider fell into forest about 1 km south of Loechgau (Germany); the airframe was substantially damaged. After a winch launch from RWY 09 the student released at about 550 m MSL, climbed to about 870 m, flew northwest, and returned to the same thermal. He resumed circling at 500-600 m MSL for 13 turns. The flight recorder then logged a 230 m height loss in 24 seconds, about 9.6 m/s, and the glider entered a 60 degree nose-down attitude into trees that decelerated the impact. Trim was set nose-heavy; no control defect was identified.

1. Winch launch RWY 09, first on type: At about 12:00 LT on 29 May 2014 the student began a winch launch in an LS 1f from RWY 09 of Löchgau for a local training flight — his first launch on the type.
2. 30 h total, first LS 1f flight: The student had received a theoretical briefing on the LS 1f the previous weekend; the accident flight was his first launch on the type.
3. Thermals to 870, returns to same band: After release the student flew south and circled left, climbing to about 870 m before heading west and northwest, then returned to resume circling left in the same thermal at about 550 m.
4. 230 m loss in 24 s at low height: Starting at 12:16:30 LT the flight recorder logged a height loss of 230 m within 24 seconds — about 9.6 m/s — while circling near the downwind area south of the airfield.
5. ~60° nose-down toward forest: The glider departed the thermalling height band and descended toward the forested terrain south of the field with no recovery; the impact attitude was about 60° nose-down.
6. Falls into trees; lightly injured: About one kilometre south of the airfield the glider fell into trees; the canopy softened the impact, and the pilot escaped with light injuries.