DG-400 hits alpine slope; pilot found dehydrated after 7-hour flight

The pilot of a DG-400 died on the west slope of Corn Alv in the Val d'Agnel at 2,829 m MSL; the aircraft was destroyed. The pilot had self-launched from Kempten at 10:41 LT for a long mountain cross-country, after five consecutive days of 4-10 h flights. Last radio contact at ~17:00 LT placed him over the San Bernardino at 3,800 m, returning via the Engadin. The wreckage was found two days later. Impact was at low forward speed and near-horizontal attitude. The probable cause was a loss of control near a slope; a pronounced dehydration and hunger state at autopsy contributed.

1. Self-launch Kempten for mountain XC: At 10:41 LT the DG-400 self-launches from Kempten (Germany) for a long mountain cross-country toward the Zürich – Innsbruck area.
2. 5 consecutive 4-10 h XC days prior: On each of the five days preceding the accident the pilot has flown long cross-countries of 4 to 10 hours' duration — the accident flight follows a week of sustained high-workload soaring.
3. Turbulent slope environment: In the days around the accident a strong north wind produced strong gusts and downdrafts on the Engadin slopes, making mountainside flight in this environment demanding.
4. Slope-side flying after 7 h aloft: Around 17:00 LT the pilot reported by radio being over the San Bernardino at 3,800 m; after about seven hours aloft he was flying close to a west-facing slope in the Val d'Agnel.
5. Dehydration and hunger state: No drinks, food or headwear were found in the wreckage; the autopsy found marked dehydration and an empty stomach, consistent with impaired concentration and judgement.
6. Probable loss of control near slope: In the turbulent slope environment, and probably under the effect of fatigue and dehydration, the pilot most likely loses control of the glider at low height above the terrain.
7. Low-speed impact on Corn Alv slope: The DG-400 struck a rock outcrop on the west slope of Corn Alv at 2,829 m MSL at low forward speed and near-horizontal attitude, destroying the aircraft; the pilot was fatally injured.