Glider clips a treetop turning toward a steep mountain slope

A very experienced local pilot was killed when the glider clipped a treetop in a low turn toward a steep mountain slope and crashed into the forest. Shortly after a normal winch launch, it turned left toward the south slope of Alp Muntatsch — a spot that usually gives good afternoon lift — but which lay in the lee that day, with downdraughts and turbulence. Flying the turn very close to the steep, tree-covered slope made it hard to judge the clearance to the treetops below. The left wing struck a treetop, tore off a section, and the glider fell about 60 m down among the trees, destroyed.

1. Winch launch at Samedan: The glider made a normal winch launch at Samedan, releasing about 600 m above the airfield.
2. Turn toward a lee slope for lift: It turned left toward the south slope of Alp Muntatsch hoping for lift, but the slope lay in the lee with turbulence and sink.
3. Low turn close to the steep slope: The left turn was flown very close to the steep, tree-covered slope, making the clearance to the treetops hard to judge.
4. Left wing clips a treetop: The left wing struck a treetop and a section of the wing tore off.
5. Crashes downslope; pilot killed: The glider fell about 60 m downslope among the trees and was destroyed; the pilot later died of the injuries.