Mini Nimbus catches wing in downwind outlanding

The pilot of a Schempp-Hirth Mini Nimbus was fatally injured after an outlanding attempt near Bad Tölz; aircraft destroyed. The cross-country flight, launched by aerotow from Königsdorf, lost thermal contact on the return leg, and an outlanding was set up into a meadow with a tailwind component from 050° at 15 km/h. From ~80 m AGL a late heading change was attempted close to the ground; the left wing contacted the ground, the glider yawed sharply about the vertical axis and struck nose-first. No technical defects were found; the investigation was closed as a facts-only report with no probable cause attributed.

1. Cross-country return to Königsdorf: A Schempp-Hirth Mini Nimbus had departed Königsdorf by aerotow for a cross-country flight in the Penzberg / Bad Tölz area. After a southbound leg towards the Eselau-Berg failed to find usable thermals, the pilot turned back northwards. Visual conditions prevailed with light cumulus and wind from ~050° at ~15 km/h; no meteorological hazards were noted.
2. Outlanding field with tailwind: About ~200 m AGL between Wackersberg and the Heigel-Kopf the pilot completed a left circle then continued north. From ~80 m AGL a meadow lying to the west of the flight path was chosen for outlanding. The field was ~260 m long, level with very short vegetation, but bordered on the left and at the end by hedge and tree rows, and gently sloped downhill in the approach direction. Touchdown direction was ~230° with the wind from ~050°, giving a direct tailwind component.
3. Late heading change near the ground: Close to the ground the pilot attempted a directional change in the round-out. The left wing contacted the ground during the manoeuvre and the glider yawed abruptly about its vertical axis.
4. Nose-first impact and reversal: While rotating, the Mini Nimbus struck the ground hard with the nose, and the fuselage came to rest pointed opposite to the approach direction. The cockpit area was destroyed and the fuselage twisted behind the wings; both wing leading edges burst, but the wing assembly remained closed. No pre-impact technical defects were identified on the airframe.
5. Pilot fatally injured; glider destroyed: The pilot was recovered with severe injuries and died in hospital. The Mini Nimbus was destroyed. The investigation was completed in summary form under § 18 FlUUG presenting only facts; no probable cause was attributed.