Discus bT stalls over school — engine unused
On 28 May 2012, after a long competition cross-country, a Discus bT reached Ludwigshafen-Edigheim at low altitude. Witnesses saw the pilot begin circling right over the school center at less than 150 m AGL. After one or two circles the nose dropped suddenly — an overstalled circle from too low to recover; the glider impacted the school's flat roof nearly vertically, penetrated a classroom, and was destroyed. His retractable engine was found stowed — never deployed despite weakening thermals.
- Cruise near finish: After more than five hours of cross-country competition flying, the glider was cruising at low altitude near the western edge of Ludwigshafen-Edigheim on the way back to Ludwigshafen-Dannstadt.
- Weak late thermals: By the late afternoon the thermal conditions had weakened, making it difficult for the pilot to regain altitude despite otherwise good visual weather.
- Low altitude over town: The glider arrived over the built-up area near the school at less than about 150 m above ground, leaving little height margin for maneuvering or recovery.
- Engine not used: Although the glider was equipped with a retractable engine, the pilot chose not to deploy it as thermals weakened and instead continued gliding at low height.
- Low-level thermalling attempt: The pilot began circling to the right in one or two tight turns over the school building in an apparent attempt to exploit weak lift at very low altitude.
- Stall in turning flight: During the right-hand circling, the glider entered an over‑stalled flight condition and the nose suddenly dropped into a very steep nose-down attitude.
- Crash - fatal: In the ensuing near-vertical descent the glider penetrated the flat roof of the school building and was destroyed, fatally injuring the pilot and damaging the structure.