Ventus CM: outlanding with motor unstarted; spin-type impact

The pilot of a Ventus CM was fatally injured and the glider destroyed in a near-vertical, spin-type impact near Rangendingen during an outlanding on a competition triangle task. The triangle from Klippeneck via Villingen and Horb worked well between 1,000–1,600 m AGL, but climbs faded after the second turn-point and no further climbing was recorded. With the sustainer extended and the engine being repeatedly started without success, witnesses saw the glider enter a left turn at ~20 m AGL near the chosen field and depart in a spin-like left rotation, striking the ground nearly vertically. The final 30 s showed a height loss of ~285 m.

1. Competition triangle from Klippeneck: At ~13:30 LT a Ventus CM aerotow-launched from Klippeneck gliding site for a competition triangle task via Villingen and Horb. The pilot held a glider licence with TMG endorsement and ~489 h total experience with 7:37 h in the last 30 days on the accident aircraft.
2. Climbs fade after 2nd turn-point: GPS-logger data showed the task initially worked between ~1,000 and ~1,600 m AGL. After the second turn-point no further climbing was recorded. The pilot continued towards an outlanding in the area of Haigerloch.
3. Sustainer extended; engine not started: On the approach to the chosen field, witnesses saw the glider arriving from the south with the sustainer extended. The pilot was attempting to start the engine. No engine running was logged by the on-board systems during the flight.
4. Left turn at ~20 m AGL near field: Witnesses observed a left turn at about 20 m above ground over a wheat field as the glider was being set up for the outlanding.
5. Spin-type departure; near-vertical: From the left turn the glider entered a spin-like left rotation and descended nearly vertically. The B-record showed a height loss of about 285 m during the last 30 seconds of the flight.
6. Right wing + cockpit impact; pilot fatal: The Ventus CM struck a meadow just north of road L 410 near Rangendingen, contacting the ground right wing and cockpit first; the cockpit penetrated up to ~30 cm into the soil and the left wing broke at the root. The left airbrake was found half deployed and the left aileron was severed. The pilot was fatally injured and the aircraft destroyed.