Discus-2b outlanding — late return, 30 km/h over, ground loop into hut

A Discus-2b outlanded at Bumbach (Switzerland); the pilot was uninjured and wing damage was minor. After spotting the field with 500 m of excess height the pilot flew 5 km west chasing thermals, hit sink, and returned with little margin. The final turn used more than 45 degrees of bank and touchdown ran about 30 km/h above the recommended 95 km/h. On wet grass with reduced braking the pilot deliberately ground-looped about 20 m short of a wooden hut and the right wingtip struck the wall. The late return decision and high, fast touchdown drove the outcome.

1. Cross-country cruise: During a VFR cross-country flight from Saanen to Schänis, the Discus-2b was cruising along the north side of the Hohgant in weakening conditions and descending.
2. Late return decision: After overflying the selected outlanding field at Bumbach with about 500 m excess height and continuing a further 5 km into an area of sink, the pilot decided very late to return to the field when already near the edge of the decision funnel.
3. Limited height at field: Due to the late decision and prevailing sink, the glider reached the outlanding field with only about 170 m height above it, leaving little time to plan a standard traffic pattern in demanding terrain.
4. Non-standard circuit: The pilot flew a non-standard pattern with multiple turns, including a tight base-to-final turn with bank angles over 45°, increasing workload and approach complexity.
5. High, wet landing roll: The final approach and flare were flown at about 125 km/h, roughly 30 km/h above the recommended speed, onto a wet grass field that reduced wheel brake effectiveness and significantly lengthened the landing roll.
6. Intentional ground loop: Seeing that the glider would not stop before a wooden hut at the end of the 200 m field, the pilot deliberately rolled the glider left to drag the wingtip and induce a ground loop to avoid a straight-on collision.
7. Outlanding - damage: The glider slid sideways and the right wingtip struck the side wall of the wooden hut, causing minor wing damage and breaking a window, with no injuries to the pilot or third parties.