ASW 19 B strikes hidden ridge in downwind outlanding after wire avoidance

An experienced pilot (1,505 h, >600 h on type) on a championship task was fatally injured when his ASW 19 B nosed into a grass-covered ridge during a late, downwind outlanding; destroyed. Entering Espelkamp at ~400 m AGL, thermal search bled height to 113 m. He committed to a 300 m grass strip beside a road but on short final spotted a power line across it and turned sharply >90° left to an alternate field, approaching downwind. The nose struck a ~50 cm ridge at high speed; the glider rotated ~180° left and slid 22 m. Gear was still retracted. Headrest also found to self-adjust under <40 N; injuries from that were not life-threatening.

1. Comp task; thermal search to 113 m: On a solo competition task, the pilot circled repeatedly searching for lift near Espelkamp after 2:43 h of flight, with height falling to 113 m AGL south of the town.
2. Late commitment to outlanding: Logger shows the power line was overflown six times during the thermal search; BFU: pilot delayed selecting a landing field; partial climb back to ~150 m before two left turns to land.
3. Power line on final to chosen strip: Approaching a 300 m grass strip beside a road, the HT line crossing it was recognised on short final.
4. Sharp >90° left to alternate field: Sudden left turn of more than 90° to switch to an alternate field; gear left retracted (stress indicator); the new approach was downwind.
5. Nose into 50 cm hidden ridge at speed: The nose struck a roughly 50 cm ground ridge across the landing path that was very hard to see from the air; the glider rotated about 180° left, slid 22 m and stopped.
6. Fatal head/spine; headrest design flag: The pilot died of impact-related head and spine injuries. Investigators also found the headrest's locking spring far weaker than the required strength standard.