LS 3 strikes a mountain flank after losing control in high alpine flight

The pilot of an LS 3 was fatally injured when the glider struck a mountain flank after losing control near the Wildstrubel; aircraft destroyed. Aerotowed from Zweisimmen, the pilot last reported ~3200 m MSL near 17:00; the wreck was found next day on the northwest flank at ~3000 m. Flying east near cloudbase, the glider struck rock with the right wingtip on a steep path. The pilot carried a video camera and his harness was unbuckled, though the canopy was closed; an eye injury matched the viewfinder. No technical or medical cause was found; the probable cause was an unexplained loss of control, with filming and flight near cloudbase noted.

1. Aerotow mountain soaring: The pilot aerotowed from Zweisimmen at 14:47 and proceeded to soar in the Lenk–Wildstrubel mountain area, later reporting position at 3200 m near Wildstrubel around 17:00.
2. Flight near cloudbase: The glider was operating close to the local cloudbase around 3200–3300 m, reducing vertical clearance from terrain near the Wildstrubel ridge.
3. Unfastened harness: The pilot’s seat harness was not latched in the central buckle at the time of the accident, indicating he was not properly strapped in.
4. Use of video camera: The pilot carried a video camera and injuries were compatible with contact with the viewfinder, suggesting he may have been filming and visually distracted from aircraft control and terrain clearance.
5. Loss of control in flight: For undetermined reasons, the pilot lost effective control of the glider while flying near the Wildstrubel at high altitude close to terrain.
6. Wingtip strikes terrain: While flying on an easterly track, the right wingtip impacted a rock face on the northwest flank of the Wildstrubel, indicating insufficient terrain clearance.
7. Crash - fatal: Following the wingtip impact, the glider broke up and the wreckage fell about 300 m down the northwest flank of the Wildstrubel, destroying the aircraft and fatally injuring the pilot.