LS8-e neo outlands on cross-sloped field, wing strike then tree

An LS8-e neo made an outlanding in the Thorame-Basse valley; the pilot was seriously injured and the aircraft destroyed. After launch from Sisteron-Vaumeilh and a climb to 2,863 m, the pilot descended. Entering the valley in lee subsidence, spirals failed to regain lift. After losing 200 m he picked a field judged slightly uphill — a nearby FFVP safe landing area was not used. Final at ~150 km/h; on flare the lateral slope was first recognised — main wheel and left wing then contacted the ground. The glider bounced, rolled to the end of the field, and struck a tree. Investigators cited the unrecognised cross-slope with the safe area not used.

1. Mountain flight from Sisteron-Vaumeilh: The LS8-e neo, an electric self-launching glider, took off on aerotow from Sisteron-Vaumeilh at 13:55 for a local mountain flight heading east, reaching a maximum altitude of 2,863 m.
2. Lee subsidence in Thorame-Basse valley: From 15:04 the glider began losing altitude, entering the Thorame-Basse valley at 1,672 m; strong NW wind over a nearby ridge created lee subsidence with downdrafts significant for soaring.
3. Spirals fail to regain altitude: The pilot circled repeatedly in the valley trying to regain altitude but continued sinking at up to -3 m/s, judging the electric motor unsuitable to counter such strong sink.
4. Outlanding decision after 200 m loss: At 15:33 (at 1,492 m), after losing 200 m, he decided to outland. He picked a field he judged to be slightly uphill, did more spirals as a final attempt to find lift, then began final.
5. Field cross-slope unrecognized: The mountain terrain likely made horizon and slope estimation difficult; a sloped field risks a ground loop, and the pilot recognized the field's lateral slope only during the flare.
6. FFVP safe landing nearby, pilot unaware: A known safe landing area lay a few hundred meters from the chosen field, with notes on approach direction, but the pilot was unaware of it and had not consulted the guide.
7. Fast final, wing strike on flare: Short final was flown at about 20% slope and -7.5 m/s vertical speed, ground speed about 150 km/h, well above the recommended approach speed; the wheel then left wing hit the sloped ground.
8. Bounced, rolled, struck tree, destroyed: The glider bounced, lost directional control, rolled to the field's far end, struck a tree and stopped in an adjacent lower field; the pilot was seriously injured, the aircraft destroyed.