ASK 21 hard outlanding short of field after leaving home glide range

The rear pilot of an ASK 21 was seriously injured and the front pilot unhurt when the glider landed hard short of a field near Stabio after leaving glide range of its home airfield; substantial nose damage. The two had launched from Calcinate del Pesce for a local flight in weak blue thermals — no nav chart, no flight planning, both with limited recent training. After about two hours, near Chiasso at ~1000 m MSL, they realised they had left glide range and could not return. They diverted to a field at ~245 m AGL, which they mis-estimated as ~400 m AGL, and flew a steep final at ~110 km/h with full airbrakes, hitting the ground ~90 m short.

1. Local soaring from LILC: Aerotow launch 13:57 LT from Calcinate del Pesce (LILC, Italy). Light north wind, weak blue thermals. Two pilots on board, alternating control of the Schleicher ASK 21 I-NIBO.
2. Limited training, no nav prep: Both pilots had low recent flying experience. Because they planned only a local flight, they carried no navigation chart or device and did no navigational planning.
3. Left the LILC glide range: After about 2 hours mostly east of LILC, near Chiasso at about 1,000 m AMSL the pilots realized they could no longer glide direct to LILC and had already left the airfield's glide range.
4. Outlanding decision near Stabio: Pilot A took control to landing. The pilots identified two fields southwest of Stabio. They reached the area at ~600 m AMSL.
5. Misjudged AGL altitude: The pilots believed the field was near LILC's elevation, estimating their height at ~400 m AGL when it was actually ~245 m; they circled repeatedly before choosing a 200 m field.
6. Hot approach, full airbrakes: At ~450 m AMSL (~95 m AGL), Pilot A initiated a continuous 270° right turn into final. Final approach northbound at ~110 km/h IAS with airbrakes fully extended at a steep approach angle.
7. Hard impact short of field: The glider hit the ground hard ~90 m short of the field's end and stopped 50 m further, with severe damage to the forward fuselage and nose gear; the rear pilot was seriously injured.