Pilot stalls MDM-1 Fox while pitching up in straight ridge flight

A pilot and his passenger were fatally injured when an MDM-1 Fox stalled and spun from straight ridge flight at ~2000 m MSL and struck a rock face; airframe destroyed. The pilot — 508 h total but only 19 h on the MDM-1 Fox and 46 min on type that same morning — had aerotowed from Sion and worked the slope searching for thermals without gaining altitude. In a final pitch-up to climb, with the glider just over max mass and CG well forward, it stalled in straight flight and entered a steep, fast spin. After 2–3 turns it hit a rock and rebounded onto a snow ledge. No technical faults; weather good with moderate turbulence; no medical findings.

1. Slope-soaring along the ridge: After an aerotow from Sion and release at about 2,000 m, the pilot worked the slope near Combe d'Arbaz in wide shallow-bank spirals, repeatedly traversing without gaining altitude.
2. Just over max takeoff mass, CG forward: Glider at 531.1 kg vs 525 kg max (1.16% overweight); centre of gravity within limits but at 1/5 from the forward edge — "frankly nose-heavy". Both factors raise stall speed.
3. Narrow stall margin on type: AFM warns that in thermal and ridge flight the speed range between stall warning (light buffet) and break is only 2–4 km/h — small margin for inattention or pitch-up corrections.
4. Final pitch-up to gain altitude: Frustrated by the lack of climb after several sector passes, the pilot likely pitched up in straight flight for one more altitude-gain attempt, drifting toward the stall warning region.
5. Stall and very pronounced spin: The glider stalled in straight flight and entered a very pronounced spin with nose near-vertical and very rapid rotation; witnesses gave conflicting direction (left vs right).
6. Insufficient height to recover: The spin developed at an altitude that did not allow full recovery before terrain impact.
7. Rock impact — both fatal: After 2-3 turns the glider struck a large rock, rebounded onto a snow ledge about 3 m below, then bounced onto a small outcrop; the airframe was destroyed and both occupants fatally injured.