Discus bT undershoots an outlanding into a road embankment, sustainer deployed
A pilot was fatally injured when a Discus bT, its sustainer extended, undershot an outlanding into a road embankment near Villingendorf; the glider was substantially damaged. On a cross-country from Hahnweide with thunderstorms building, he ran low — his last climb ended near 350 m — and set up for a short maize field. He crossed the last stretch fast and low, about 130 km/h at 38 m; the glider caught the near embankment of a sunken road, overflew the road and hit the rising bank beyond, rearing up before it stopped. The engine was found extended, ignition on; deploying it costs height and worsens the glide, and no technical fault was found.
- Cross-country, running low: On a cross-country from Hahnweide, a Discus bT worked west then south-east; its last thermal climb ended near 350 m about five minutes before the crash, with thunderstorms building.
- Sustainer engine deployed: The pilot extended the retractable sustainer engine, found afterwards extended with the ignition on; deploying it costs about 50-150 m of height and degrades the glide.
- Commits late to a maize field: Running low, he set up to outland on a short, level maize field about 200 m long.
- Fast and low on final: The last stretch was flown fast and low — about 130 km/h at only 38 m above the ground.
- Undershoots into a road embankment: The glider caught the near embankment of a sunken road, overflew the road, and hit the rising bank on the far side.
- Rears up, fatal impact: It reared up, slewed about 60 degrees left and struck the ground, stopping after a few metres; the pilot was fatally injured and the glider substantially damaged.