DG-100 stalls in a steep turn low over a mountain slope

The pilot of a DG-100 ELAN was fatally injured when the glider stalled out of a steep turn low over a slope and dived in; aircraft destroyed. With only limited, infrequent time on the high-performance type — about 28 h in nine flights over three years — the pilot had aerotowed from Münster to soar locally in weak, irregular lift. Heading up-valley toward the Furka, the glider entered a very steep right turn at low height, then pitched forward into a near-vertical dive; a second later it struck a steep slope by avalanche barriers. The probable cause was a drop below minimum flying speed at low height; no technical or medical cause was found.

1. Alpine soaring flight: After an aerotow from Münster at a gliding camp, the pilot released near the Galmihornhütte at about 2440 m and soared the Galmihornhütte–Münster–Geschinen area.
2. Low time on type: The pilot had limited, infrequent experience on the high-performance DG-100 — about 28 h in nine flights over three years.
3. Steep right turn, low: Heading up-valley toward the Furka near Geschinergalen, the glider entered a very steep right turn at low height over the slope.
4. Stalls below minimum speed: In the steep turn the airspeed fell below the minimum flying speed and the glider stalled.
5. Nose-drop into dive: The glider pitched forward into a near-vertical dive, about one second before impact.
6. Fatal impact: It struck the steep slope by avalanche barriers and was destroyed, fatally injuring the pilot.