Discus bT engine fails to restart, hard outlanding short of airfield

On June 24, 2007, 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.

1. Winch launch then 4+ h XC in Alps: Schempp-Hirth Discus bT (single-seat motorglider with retractable engine, ~2,034 h total, last airworthiness check 28.03.2007 with 79 h since). Pilot 18 yo, licence since 2005, ~250 h total, 31 h on type; only 2 launches and 7 h flown in the previous 90 days. Winch launch from Unterwössen at 10:08 local for a cross-country flight in the Austrian Alps. VMC, near-cloudless sky, wind 053° at 2-3 kt, ~26 °C surface. The pilot thermalled in the mountain air for more than 4 hours before initiating return to Unterwössen.
2. Engine fails to start 10 km S of Kössen: About 10 km south of Kössen on the return leg, the pilot attempted to deploy the retractable engine to extend the flight. The engine did not fire. The pilot had to continue toward Unterwössen unpowered.
3. 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.
4. Only ~600 m AGL over Kössen: Over Kössen the glider had only ~600 m AGL remaining. The pilot announced a direct approach to RWY 06 at Unterwössen by radio. The straight-line distance from Kössen to Unterwössen is on the order of 6-7 km, requiring a glide ratio well within the Discus bT's capability — but the report's facts indicate the remaining altitude was nonetheless insufficient for the approach as flown.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 30° nose-down impact, destroyed: The motorglider touched down with approximately 30° nose-down attitude, striking the ground with the nose and the left wingtip. The cockpit was smashed and the wing-fuselage connection broke. The landing gear was found extended but not locked. Pilot seriously injured; aircraft severely damaged (effectively destroyed). Wreckage examination found no indication of technical defects. The BFU completed the investigation as a facts-only summary report under §18 FlUUG; no analysis or conclusions.