Pilot stalls a Pilatus B4 soaring below crest height after releasing too low

The pilot of a Pilatus B4 was seriously injured and the glider destroyed after stalling into a slope near Ulrichen. Newly cleared for solo at an alpine camp, the low-time pilot had been told to stay above crest height and otherwise land. Release from tow came at about 2100 m over the Chietal, below the local ridges; knowing it was too low but unwilling to land at Münster and lose the day's last slot, the pilot flew on. The pilot then worked slow figure-eights close to the shallow slopes with little attention to airspeed; in a valley-ward turn the glider fell below minimum speed, stopped responding and hit the slope.

1. Aerotow up the valley: During an alpine gliding camp, the pilot departed Münster in aerotow in a Pilatus B4 for a solo flight up the Goms valley.
2. Premature tow release: After a 180° turn near the Oberwaldergrimsel, the pilot released from tow at about 2100 m MSL over the Chietal, already below the local ridges and contrary to instruction.
3. Chose to continue, not land: Aware the release was too low, the pilot continued rather than land at Münster, where the glider's reservation would have made an early landing the last flight of the day.
4. Low, slow slope soaring: In pure thermal conditions over shallow local slopes, the pilot flew slow figure-eights close to the hillside, leaving little height margin for corrections.
5. Poor airspeed monitoring: The pilot flew mainly by feel and paid little attention to the airspeed indicator while maneuvering near the slope.
6. Stall and loss of control: During a turn toward the valley at low height, the glider dropped below minimum flying speed, stopped responding to control inputs, and departed controlled flight.
7. Crash - serious injury: The glider struck a steep slope near Flieli, 1.5 km northwest of Ulrichen, seriously injuring the pilot and destroying the aircraft.