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

Two pilots launched an ASK 21 from Calcinate del Pesce (LILC, Italy) for a local flight in weak blue thermals — no nav chart, no flight planning. Both had limited recent training. After ~2 hours, near Chiasso at ~1000 m AMSL, they realized they had left LILC's glide range and could not return. They diverted to a field SW of Stabio at ~245 m AGL — which they mis-estimated as ~400 m AGL. Final approach at ~110 km/h with full airbrakes at a steep angle; hit the ground ~90 m short of the field end. Substantial nose damage; rear pilot seriously injured; front pilot uninjured.

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 ~2 hours mostly east of LILC, near Chiasso at ~1000 m AMSL the pilots realized they could no longer glide direct to LILC and had to consider an outlanding. They had already left the airfield's glide range — the SUST-cited contributing factor.
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 at a similar elevation to LILC and therefore estimated their height as ~400 m AGL. The actual elevation difference made the true height ~245 m AGL — a factor-~1.6 misjudgment. They flew several full circles right and left over the field at continuously decreasing altitude before selecting a 200 m (estimated) field next to an industrial building.
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: Glider hit the ground hard ~90 m short of the landing field's end; came to rest 50 m further. Severe damage to forward fuselage floor and nose gear. Front pilot uninjured; rear pilot seriously injured. SUST primary cause: unsuitable approach planning. No safety recommendations issued.