ASH 26 E descends after three loops; pilot heart attack at time of accident

An ASH 26 E pilot was fatally injured after the glider was observed flying three loops and then descended out of control into mixed forest near Bad Liebenzell; destroyed. The glider had aerotowed at 12:30 from Malmsheim. Witnesses saw three loops; around 12:55 it went down, sheared a fir treetop at ~30 m and fell ~70 m further east almost vertically into mixed woodland. The pilot was found lifeless in the cockpit with no externally visible injuries; autopsy showed an acute heart attack near the time of accident. The report does not establish whether the loops were intentional or a consequence of incapacitation. No technical faults found.

1. Aerotow launch from Malmsheim: Glider aerotowed at 12:30 from Malmsheim behind a touring motor glider; routine departure.
2. Three loops observed before descent: Witnesses saw the glider fly three loops near Bad Liebenzell-Unterhaugstett shortly before descending; whether these were deliberate or a result of incapacitation was not established.
3. Acute heart attack at time of accident: Autopsy showed the pilot suffered an acute heart attack near the time of the accident; the precise sequence relative to the observed loops is not established.
4. Glider descends out of control: Following the loops the glider descended out of control toward the treeline.
5. Treetop strike at ~30 m: Sheared the top of a fir at ~30 m height; fell about 70 m further east almost vertically.
6. Near-vertical impact in mixed woodland: Crashed around 12:55 in mixed woodland near Bad Liebenzell-Unterhaugstett; the pilot was found lifeless in the cockpit with no externally visible injuries and no technical faults were found.