Discus bT engine fails to restart, hard outlanding short of airfield
The 18-year-old pilot of a Discus bT was seriously injured in an outlanding ~910 m SW of Unterwössen; the aircraft was destroyed. The 18-year-old pilot (250 h, 31 h on type; low recent currency) had launched by winch at 10:08 for a cross-country in the Austrian Alps. After 4+ h thermalling, ~10 km S of Kössen the pilot tried to start the retractable engine — it would not fire. A direct approach to RWY 06 was announced at ~600 m AGL over Kössen, but the remaining height was insufficient and the glider outlanded on a meadow short of the field, touching down at ~30° nose-down. Cockpit destroyed; gear extended but not locked.
- Winch launch then 4+ h XC in Alps: The Discus bT motorglider, flown by an 18-year-old pilot, launched by winch from Unterwössen at 10:08 for a cross-country flight, thermalling over 4 hours before starting the return.
- Engine fails to start 10 km S of Kössen: About 10 km south of Kössen on the return leg the pilot tried to deploy the retractable engine to extend the flight; it did not fire, and he continued toward Unterwössen unpowered.
- Unpowered return to Unterwössen: With no engine power available, the pilot turned toward home and tried to reach the airfield by gliding back from the Austrian side of the border.
- Only ~600 m AGL over Kössen: Over Kössen the glider had only about 600 m AGL left, and the pilot announced a direct approach to RWY 06 at Unterwössen, but the remaining altitude proved insufficient as flown.
- Insufficient height for direct approach: On approach the pilot realised the remaining height would not be enough to reach the airfield. The decision was made to outland on a meadow ahead of the airfield.
- Outland on meadow ~910 m SW of field: Outlanding site: a meadow with 20-30 cm tall grass, ~910 m southwest of the Unterwössen airfield boundary.
- 30° nose-down impact, destroyed: The motorglider touched down at about 30° nose-down, striking the nose and left wingtip; the cockpit was smashed and the wing-fuselage joint broke. The pilot was seriously injured.