CB.15 Crystal stalls circling low on a first-ever outlanding

The pilot of a CB.15 Crystal was injured and the glider destroyed after it stalled into trees on a first-ever outlanding near Sigloy during a club competition. Committing to a pre-picked field at about 200 m — below the 400 to 500 m recommended decision height — the pilot was on final below 50 m when he hit turbulence and tried to circle to regain height, against the manual's no-circling-below-200 m rule. The glider stalled, dived, and struck the trees. The competition's start line had never even been opened.

1. Club competition return leg: On day three of a club competition, the pilot launched at 15:24, reached about 900 m, and turned back toward the second turn point at about 600 m, unable to maintain height.
2. Competition departure not given: The competition departure line was never opened, and there was no formal cancellation either; two of three pilots departed on the circuit on their own initiative.
3. First-ever outlanding: The pilot had never outlanded before and said that, absent the competition, he would likely have stayed local — a factor in over-confidence about the outlanding option.
4. Outlanding decision at low height: On approach to Châteauneuf-sur-Loire at about 300-400 m AGL, the pilot judged himself too low to continue and committed to a field at about 200 m — below the recommended decision height.
5. Reduced approach speed: The pilot adopted ~80 km/h to 'minimise landing energy', 10-20 km/h below the recommended 90-100 km/h (1.3 × Vs ≈ 90 km/h for this Crystal). This reduced stall margin near the ground.
6. Circling attempt below 50 m: At the end of the base leg at under 50 m height, the pilot felt turbulence and abandoned the pattern to start circling for height, against manual advice on circling below 200 m.
7. Stall, dive, no recovery: During the low-altitude circling at reduced speed, the glider stalled; the pilot pushed the stick forward feeling the sink rate too large, and the last-moment pull-up was insufficient.
8. Collision with woods: The glider struck trees at the edge of a wood. Wreckage compact; both airbrakes found fully extended (gear may have retracted at impact). Glider destroyed; pilot injured.