Ventus cT and Skylark 4 mid-air at ~28° off head-on in hazy cruise

The pilot of a Schempp-Hirth Ventus cT was fatally injured in a mid-air collision with a Slingsby T50 Skylark 4 near Lasham; both gliders destroyed, the Skylark pilot bailed out uninjured. At ~1,220 m AGL the gliders were both straight and level, converging ~28° off head-on; the Skylark pilot saw the white Ventus only at the last moment, slightly above and 10° to his left. The Ventus underside struck the Skylark's left wing and tail; the Skylark lost part of a wing and tail before its pilot bailed. The Ventus descended near-vertically nose-down. Visibility was variable and decreased with height under haze, with 11 other gliders airborne.

1. Aerotow launch and cruise from Lasham: The Ventus cT was aerotow-launched from Lasham and had been airborne over three hours. The Skylark 4 was on a winch launch for a Silver Certificate duration attempt, within ~15 km.
2. Hazy; visibility falls with altitude: Surface conditions were bright but hazy, visibility over 5 km but decreasing with height. The Skylark pilot described the air as 'murkier' as he climbed; no cloud entry was reported.
3. 11 other gliders airborne from Lasham: At least 11 other gliders from Lasham were airborne at the time, including several thermalling under cumulus, increasing the local traffic density.
4. Straight-and-level, ~28° off head-on: At ~1,220 m AGL both gliders flew level on nearly opposing tracks ~28° off head-on. The Skylark pilot, tracking two gliders left, turned forward and saw the Ventus fill the windscreen.
5. Ventus hits Skylark wing then tail: The Ventus underside struck the Skylark's left wing then its tail; paint transfer confirmed the geometry. The Skylark lost part of a wing and its tail; the Ventus cockpit was disrupted.
6. Skylark pilot bails; parachute deploys: After impact the Skylark pilot released canopy and harness and was thrown clear of the disintegrating aircraft. He pulled his ripcord, the parachute deployed, and he landed uninjured.
7. Vertical nose-down impact; pilot fatal: The Ventus descended near-vertically nose-down, striking the ground at ~90° pitch with high vertical speed, unsurvivable; the airframe was destroyed. The Skylark fell 474 m away.