ASK 21 touches down late on outlanding, overruns field and ground-loops

An ASK 21 was damaged on outlanding at the Gäsi-Feld near Näfels (Switzerland) on a passenger flight; both occupants were uninjured. The pilot held 160 hours total and 60 on type, with 30 minutes on type in the prior 90 days. After an aerotow departure from Schänis he found no usable lift to the west; returning, he met strong downdrafts at Ziegelbrücke and at 800 m MSL chose to outland in the freshly mowed Gäsi field. Wind made the 100-110 km/h approach speed hard to hold; he touched down late, overran the field across the adjacent road and ground-looped through 180 degrees, damaging the right wing and tail.

1. Aerotow from Schänis 15:30 LT: The pilot launched the ASK 21 on aerotow from Schänis at 15:30 LT on 11 July 2015 for a passenger flight, then flew west over Mattstock and Flügenspitz toward Arvenbühel in search of usable thermals.
2. Strong sink at Ziegelbrücke, 800 m: Heading back toward Schänis the glider met strong downdrafts near Ziegelbrücke; at about 800 m AMSL the pilot judged that a return to Schänis was no longer possible.
3. Decision to outland at Gäsi-Feld: The pilot turned south, informed the flight service at Schänis, and selected the freshly mowed and empty Gäsi-Feld for an outlanding into the southwest.
4. Speed control hard in wind: Wind made it difficult for the pilot to hold the intended 100-110 km/h approach speed and to organise the flight path for the southwest landing.
5. Late touchdown, short runout: The glider touched down late on the field, leaving insufficient distance to brake to a stop before the end of the mowed area.
6. Overruns field, 180° ground loop: The glider overran the end of the field, crossed the adjacent road and came to rest behind it after a roughly 180° rotation about the vertical axis (Ringelpietz). The right wing and tail were damaged; both occupants were uninjured.