LS 8-18 strikes rocky west flank at 3,000 m during competition

The pilot of an LS 8-18 was killed on the rocky west flank of Chlein Seehorn at about 2,790 m MSL and the aircraft was destroyed. He held 238 hours total and 27 on type, with limited alpine experience and no prior competition flying. Towed from Schänis on a Junior Swiss Championship AAT task, he turned back from Engadin and approached Chlein Seehorn again. Trying to climb on the west flank at about 3,000 m MSL, the glider struck the slope and slid down to scree below. The cause could not be determined; limited alpine experience and the unfamiliar competition setting may have played a role.

1. Aerotow Schänis 12:14 LT: At 12:14 LT on 1 July 2015 the pilot launched the LS 8-18 on aerotow from Schänis on the first day of the Junior Swiss Championship, an AAT task with turn cylinders at Serfaus and Zernez before returning to Schänis. He released near Mattstock fourteen minutes later.
2. Limited alpine experience: The pilot's alpine introduction in 2011 consisted of about 6 hours of dual instruction at Münster followed by 4 solo flights. After that, almost all of his flying was from Amlikon toward southern Germany, with only a small portion into the Alps. He held 238 hours total and 27 hours on the LS 8-18, with 18 of those in the prior 90 days.
3. Unfamiliar competition setting: This was the pilot's first gliding competition. The final report notes that the unfamiliar competition setting, combined with his limited alpine experience, may have made risk assessment in the mountains harder.
4. Defensive turn back from Engadin: After climbing well at Älpeltispitz to about 3,360 m AMSL and continuing toward the Engadin, the pilot decided just before Fuorcola Vermunt — at roughly 3,260 m AMSL — to turn back to the Prättigau. The report frames the decision as defensive and consistent with the pilot's described careful style. He then approached Chlein Seehorn twice while looking for height.
5. Climb attempt on west flank: At about 16:26 LT the pilot tried to gain height on the steep, rocky west flank of Chlein Seehorn at roughly 3,000 m AMSL. The flight-path reconstruction from other gliders' FLARM data ends at 16:27:23 LT at 2,984 m AMSL, only metres from where the wreckage was later found.
6. Strikes west flank, slides to scree: The glider struck the rocky west flank, slid down the steep face and came to rest in a snow and scree field below. The cockpit, both wings and the fuselage broke up. The pilot died on impact. The cause of the collision with the terrain could not be determined.