ASW 20L and DG-500 collide head-on in Alpine soaring — sighted too late

The DG-500 front-seat pilot was fatally injured and the other two pilots seriously hurt when the two gliders collided head-on at ~2700 m MSL near Walliser Wispile; both destroyed. Both had aerotowed from training camps and were straight-and-level on reciprocal tracks (ASW 20L from Saanen heading ~210°, DG-500 from Zweisimmen northward). The ASW pilot knew of ~4 other gliders nearby, none close. He saw the DG-500's red nose ahead and pulled left; the DG-500 front pilot likely banked left and pushed to pass under — not enough time. The ASW lost its right wing; the DG-500 broke up; both surviving pilots bailed out; the front pilot could not.

1. Alpine soaring on reciprocal tracks: An ASW 20L aerotowed from Saanen; a DG-500 aerotowed from Zweisimmen; both were on training-camp Alpine soaring at ~2700 m, the ASW tracking ~210° south, the DG-500 north past the Spitzhorn.
2. Multiple gliders nearby, none close: The ASW 20L pilot was aware of at least four other gliders nearby but none in his immediate vicinity or at his altitude; no specific separation or coordination was in place.
3. Lookout failed on both crews: The DG-500 crew shared lookout duties between front and rear seat; the ASW 20L pilot was scanning the area as well; neither crew detected the opposing glider in time.
4. Opposing glider sighted very late: Both gliders were straight-and-level on reciprocal headings when the ASW 20L pilot suddenly saw the DG-500's red nose ahead; the rear-seat pilot heard a shout and saw it at collision range.
5. Last-second evasion attempts: The ASW 20L pilot yanked the stick left; the DG-500 front-seat pilot likely banked left and pushed forward to pass beneath — too late to clear.
6. Head-on impact, structural break-up: Near-frontal collision; the ASW 20L's right wing was severed and the DG-500 broke up at the cockpit; both gliders destroyed.
7. Two bail out, DG-500 front pilot fatal: The ASW 20L pilot freed himself once his instrument cover detached and the wreckage pitched nose-down, then parachuted clear; the DG-500 rear pilot also bailed out; both broke a foot.