LS 4 sinks into the trees after a turn toward the slope

An experienced pilot was seriously injured when an LS 4 sank into fir treetops and down a steep hillside after turning toward the slope in weak, gusty air. Low in an alpine valley, scratching for lift, the pilot turned briskly left toward the slope to core a patch of lift — then the glider sank about 50 m in a few seconds and the controls went mushy. Too close to the slope to push the nose down and regain speed, it clipped the trees and fell down the slope, destroyed. The wind was variable and gusting hard in the outflow from a nearby thunderstorm; turning toward rising ground, rather than away, left no room to recover.

1. Scratching weak lift in Val Plattas: Low in an alpine valley in weakening lift, an experienced pilot worked a west-facing slope, steadily losing height.
2. Turn toward the slope for lift: Finding a patch of lift, the pilot turned briskly left toward the slope to core it — against the basic rule of turning away from terrain.
3. Sudden strong sink, controls mushy: In the strong, gusty air the glider sank about 50 m in a few seconds and the controls went soft.
4. No room to push over: Too close to the slope to lower the nose and regain flying speed, the glider could not be recovered.
5. Clips trees, falls down the slope: A wing clipped fir treetops and the glider fell down the steep hillside; it was destroyed and the pilot seriously injured.