Discus CS strikes wall in a late outlanding on unprepared field

The pilot of a Schempp-Hirth Discus CS was seriously injured in an obstacle strike on an outlanding at a rifle range near Porza; aircraft destroyed. Returning from the Veltlin, the glider sank steadily along the north shore of Lake Lugano, bypassing known outlanding fields at Caiolo, Somaggia and Porlezza. At Monte Brè it was at ~580 m MSL with Lugano airport still reachable in still air, but the pilot turned north. After a low full circle over inhabited terrain, the right wingtip hit a 5.4 m wall on approach to an unfamiliar rifle range. The probable cause was no timely decision on a safe routing or landing option.

1. Aerotow from San Vittore: The pilot launched by aerotow from San Vittore, released near Parusciana, climbed to about 3,800 m on Pizzo Sasso Canale, then flew east along the Veltlin's southern slopes.
2. Eastbound to NE of Tirano, then return: Northeast of Tirano the glider turned back west at 1,880 m, flying intermittently low down to 1,610 m, and recrossed Pizzo Sasso Canale at only about 2,150 m versus 3,800 m outbound.
3. Bypassed outlanding fields: Several known outlanding fields, including ones near Porlezza discussed in advance, lay along the route, but the pilot did not commit to landing at any of them.
4. Four full circles N of Porlezza: North of Porlezza the glider circled four times without significant climb, descending to under 1,100 m; since the Lugano plain was still reachable in still air, the pilot continued west.
5. Right turn N at Monte Brè, ~580 m MSL: Approaching Monte Brè below 600 m, with a glide to Lugano airport or a landing on the lake still possible, the pilot turned right toward the north instead, over inhabited terrain.
6. Low circle over built-up area: Over Monte Brè's south slope, the pilot circled left at low altitude above houses, then turned toward the Ressiga rifle range — an unfamiliar site absent from outlanding catalogues.
7. Unsuitable forced-landing field: The field, about 30 m wide and 150 m long, was boxed in by a 5.4 m wall, a pool, trees and a fence, with cranes on final forcing a late 30° course change before touchdown.
8. Wingtip strikes 5.4 m concrete wall: The wingtip struck the wall and sheared off, and the glider hit nose-first, flipping inverted and destroying the cockpit. The pilot suffered serious head injuries in the crash.