LS6-18w late outlanding attempt — high-angle terrain impact

A Rolladen-Schneider LS6-18w struck terrain in an outlanding attempt near Argentine (Savoie); the pilot was seriously injured and the glider destroyed. After 4 hours in the Alps from Fayence-Tourrettes, the pilot encountered unfavourable conditions in the Maurienne valley and lost ~650 m in the last 10 minutes, exiting the reach of the nearest airfield and the listed safety areas. The glider struck the ground in a steep nose-down right-bank attitude (>30°). BEA cited unfavourable Maurienne aerology, with limited valley experience and possible dehydration (no water on board) contributing.

1. Cross-country from Fayence: The pilot took off in aerotow at 11:26 from Fayence-Tourrettes runway 10L and flew north across the southern Alps, entering the Maurienne valley around 14:00 at about 2700 m altitude. He thermalled briefly at Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne and continued north along the southwest-facing slope.
2. Limited Maurienne experience: Pilot age 75, glider licence since 1968, ~6400 total hours, ex-instructor 1976-2015. Habituated to long XC in the southern Alps but had little or no prior experience in the Maurienne valley. The AAPCA chief pilot indicated he was surprised to see the pilot flying in this sector. BEA cites this as a contributing factor.
3. Possible dehydration: No water bottles were found at the accident site and BEA could not determine with certainty if the pilot had water on board. BEA notes that a lack of hydration could have impaired cognitive performance — concentration, memory, attention, vigilance. Outside temperature 29 °C.
4. Unfavourable Maurienne aerology: On a west-facing slope in the Maurienne, the pilot encountered high cirrus reducing thermal convection and weak variable wind preventing dynamic ridge lift. Around the accident site, weak ridge lift was available on the windward slopes but no thermal lift in the valley itself.
5. Past reachable safe options: The glider lost about 650 m in the last 10 minutes over ~15 km, with vertical speed reaching -5 m/s. The pilot continued past the local zone of the nearest airfield (Saint-Rémy-de-Maurienne, ~14 km south) and past the listed safety areas (Aiton, ~12 km NW per the Alpine safety areas guide).
6. Diverged for outlanding: At 570 m (215 m AGL), 2.5 km from the accident site, the pilot diverged from the relief. He performed a U-turn at 410 m (80 m AGL). The last recorded FLARM point was at 30 m AGL, 900 m from impact.
7. High-angle terrain impact: The glider struck the ground in a steep nose-down attitude (>30°), right bank, heading ~030°, between a large oak and a power line (no impact traces on either). Wingtip strike + nose crater visible. Flap handle at ~0°, airbrake handle 'retracted', gear handle intermediate (impact position undetermined). Pilot seriously injured; glider destroyed.