H 301 Libelle outlanding — stall in steep low final turn

The pilot of a Glasflügel H 301 Libelle was fatally injured on an outlanding southwest of Reifferscheid in the Eifel, Germany; the glider was destroyed. Unable to return to Wershofen, the pilot delayed the outlanding while still thermalling at about 150 m, then overflew the intended field with a tight downwind. Witnesses saw the final turn at house height: the glider banked steeply, airspeed fell below the minimum flying speed, and the wing struck a 13 m spruce before impact. A late outlanding decision and the resulting low, tight circuit forced a steep low-speed final turn that ended in a stall close to the ground.

1. Cross-country soaring: After a winch launch from Wershofen, the pilot flew cross-country, gaining height near the airfield before heading southeast and then north toward Reifferscheid.
2. Unable to maintain height: In the area near Reifferscheid the pilot was unable to gain further altitude in weak or absent thermals and recognized he could no longer reach Wershofen.
3. Challenging outlanding terrain: The surrounding Hocheifel terrain was strongly dissected and generally unfavorable for outlandings, with rising ground toward Reifferscheid and limited suitable fields.
4. Late outlanding decision: At about 150 m height the pilot reported an impending outlanding and, while still low, continued searching for lift before selecting a field along the district road.
5. Low tight circuit: The pilot overflew the intended field at low height and flew a very tight, low circuit with several low circles west of Reifferscheid before positioning for the final turn.
6. Steep low-speed turn: At about house-top height the pilot began a steep turn toward final; speed dropped below minimum, bank grew excessive, and the glider dropped nose-down out of the turn.
7. Crash - fatal: The glider clipped a 13 m spruce in a tree line, then struck a grass field near Reifferscheid nearly vertically, fatally injuring the pilot and destroying the aircraft.