DG-1000S strikes power line on low ridge maneuver — task-load distraction

A DG-1000S struck a power line on a low ridge manoeuvre after departing Grenchen (LSZG, Switzerland) by aerotow; the pilot was seriously injured. After 1.5 h of slope work in weak lift along the southern Jura crest, the instructor radioed for landing. The pilot, with only 41 h on type and nothing in the previous 90 days, made a 180 degree right turn into the slope at low altitude and accelerated to about 190 km/h. Focused on landing preparation, he blanked out a known power line; the left wing struck it and separated, the glider yawed left and crashed into wooded terrain. FLARM did not warn, as the wire was absent from its obstacle database.

1. Local flight from Grenchen: DG-1000S in 18 m configuration; aerotow 13:01 from Grenchen (LSZG) RW 06; released N of Bettlach at ~1 400 m AMSL.
2. Limited recency on DG-1000: Pilot 721 h total but only 41 h on type, nothing in the last 90 days. Last DG-1000 flight was 21 July 2019; usually flew historical gliders.
3. Power line known to the pilot: Freely-hanging wire between Wandflue and Bettlachberg without intermediate masts. Pilot had just thermalled over it for ~3 min, gaining ~60 m.
4. Instructor radios land-back: At 14:35 the instructor on the ground radioed for the pilot to land on RW 24 (wind had shifted).
5. Task-load shift to landing prep: Pilot cited focus on ATIS, English radio with tower, and Parabox avoidance — his attention diverted from the ridge environment.
6. 180° right turn INTO the slope: Pilot turned right at low altitude over the Ängloch edge — contrary to his earlier pattern of turning AWAY from the slope — and accelerated to ~190 km/h in a descending straight leg.
7. Left wing strikes power line: Left wing contacted the freely-hanging wire at ~1 340 m AMSL; outer left wing separated.
8. Yaw left, impact in wooded terrain: Glider yawed left and crashed into steep wooded terrain. Aircraft destroyed; pilot seriously injured. FLARM did not warn — wire missing from the loaded ALPS-wide obstacle database (would-have-warned in detailed Swiss database).