Glider stalls low on a late outlanding attempt

An experienced competition pilot was killed when a glider stalled at very low height while setting up a late outlanding and dropped steeply into a field; it was destroyed. On a weak championship task, the glider had drifted down a valley in poor lift, crossing a power line low and pressing on instead of committing to a field. Down to about 50 m over the valley — already below 200 m for minutes — the pilot circled, then began an approach; the speed decayed to near the stall, a wing dropped, and there was no height to recover. Established practice is to pick a field early and begin the approach by 150-250 m.

1. Weak final glide down a valley: On a weak championship task, the glider glided down the Luthern valley in poor lift, losing height.
2. Pressed on instead of outlanding: Rather than commit to a field with height in hand, the pilot flew on low — crossing a power line — still searching for lift.
3. Very low, circling for a field: Down to about 50 m over the valley floor, already below 200 m for some minutes, the glider circled, then set up a landing approach.
4. Speed decays; steep wing drop: On the approach the airspeed decayed to near the stall, and a wing dropped steeply.
5. Strikes the field; pilot killed: From about 30-40 m there was too little height to recover; the glider struck the field and was destroyed, killing the pilot.