ASW 28-18 E wing drop at 150 m thermalling in gusty wind

The pilot of an ASW 28-18 E died near a forest lake SW of Oerlinghausen; the aircraft was destroyed. After a winch launch at 13:58 LT to ~400 m AGL the engine was retracted and the glider flew SW, then E for lift. At ~200 m AGL the pilot started right-hand circling in a thermal; after one full circle the glider had lost ~50 m. Circling continued, and during the second circle at ~150 m the glider rolled off over the right wing and impacted at a steep nose-down angle. Strong gusty east wind (18 kt, gusts to 34 kt) prevailed. Recent currency was low: 35 minutes flown in the last 30 days.

1. Winch launch + glide SW then E: At 13:58 LT the ASW 28-18 E launched by winch from Oerlinghausen to about 400 m AGL; the pilot retracted the engine, glided south-west, then turned east at the boundary to find lift.
2. Low recent currency: In the last 30 days the pilot had logged only two flights, totalling about 35 minutes, despite extensive prior experience including on the ASW 28-18 E.
3. Strong gusty east wind: Weather was visual with an almost cloudless sky; ground wind was from about 080° at 18 kt with gusts to 34 kt, and strong gusts and turbulence were expected in the lower altitudes.
4. Right-hand circling at ~200 m: At about 200 m above the ground the pilot tries to use a thermal and starts right-hand circling — a very low altitude for manoeuvring flight in the prevailing gusty conditions.
5. 50 m loss on first circle, continued: After one full circle the glider has lost about 50 m of height. The pilot continues circling rather than levelling off to set up a landing back on the airfield.
6. Wing drop over right at ~150 m: During the second circle, at about 150 m above the ground, the glider rolls off over the right wing and transitions into a steep nose-down attitude.
7. Steep nose-down impact at forest lake: The glider struck the ground by a small forest lake south-west of the launch point, nose steeply down; the cockpit was destroyed and the pilot fatally injured. No defects were found.