Standard Cirrus TOP short of runway on approach; overturns in field

A Standard Cirrus TOP was destroyed in a forced landing 800 m short of Ummern (Germany); the pilot was seriously injured. On his first flight of the year on this glider, after a six-month gap, the pilot self-launched at 11:19 to test systems before the annual airworthiness check. He climbed on engine to about 300 m, stowed it, then thermalled to about 1,000 m for 40 minutes. Returning on approach on heading 130 he could not reach the runway, hit a field 800 m short, and overturned. Investigators found no technical defects; the engine remained in operational standby position rather than redeployed.

1. Self-launch, first flight of year: The pilot self-launched at 11:19 from Ummern in direction 310° for his first flight of the year, intended to test all systems before the annual airworthiness check.
2. 6-month gap on this aircraft: The pilot was very experienced — over 1,000 h on the Standard Cirrus type — but his last flight on this specific glider was on 18 September 2015, about six months before the accident.
3. Climb on engine, then thermals: After climbing on the retractable engine to about 300 m, the pilot stowed the engine and used thermals to climb to about 1,000 m. He then thermalled southwest of the airfield for about 40 minutes.
4. Returns short of RWY 13: Approximately 40 minutes after launch, the pilot returned to the airfield on approach in direction 130° (opposite to the launch direction). Energy was insufficient to reach the runway.
5. Engine not redeployed: Although the retractable engine was found in operational standby position (main switch ON, fuel system operational, both small tanks containing fuel), it was not redeployed to extend the glide back to the runway.
6. Ground contact ~800 m short: The glider struck an agricultural field about 800 m before the airfield boundary. First contact was with the nose and right wing.
7. Inverted overturn, pilot injured: The glider overturned and came to rest inverted; aircraft destroyed (nose broken at canopy frame, elevator separated, propeller blades broken). Pilot seriously injured. BFU found no technical defects.