Janus C high on outlanding approach hits tree in reversal turn

The pilot of a Schempp-Hirth Janus C from Locarno (LSZL) was lightly injured and the passenger uninjured during an outlanding on a field east of Rhäzüns; the aircraft was destroyed after the glider lost altitude over the Surselva. A high-voltage line ran about 200 m south of the chosen field, with gusty valley wind. The approach went too high and the pilot had to overfly the field, then set up a reversal turn east of Rhäzüns to re-approach. During the turn the left wing struck a tree, the glider yawed about its vertical axis and hit a plowed field hard, with the overshoot and improvised low reversal the key drivers of the tree strike.

1. Alpine cross-country: Schempp-Hirth Janus C departed Locarno with the pilot and a passenger (another pilot) for an Alpine flight, routing via Surselva toward Bonaduz and Rhäzüns.
2. No lift to return to Ticino: Altitude was lost progressively over the Surselva. With no thermal lift to return to Ticino, the pilot chose to outland on a field east of Rhäzüns.
3. Power line + gusty valley wind: A high-voltage line ran ~200 m south of the chosen field, complicating the approach. Gusty valley wind was present at the time.
4. Approach too high: The approach was too high; the pilot had to overfly the field rather than touch down. The approach tactic was found inappropriate; no technical defects or systemic causes identified.
5. Reversal turn to re-approach: East of Rhäzüns the pilot set up a reversal turn to re-approach the outlanding field.
6. Left wing strikes tree, yaw: During the reversal turn the left wing touched a tree, causing the glider to yaw around its vertical axis.
7. Hard impact on plowed field: The Janus C hit a plowed field hard. The pilot was lightly injured; the passenger (another pilot) was uninjured. The glider was destroyed.