Ventus strikes a lee-ridge slope after a loss of control
The pilot was killed and the glider destroyed when he lost control slope-soaring low on a mountain ridge and the Ventus struck the wooded slope. Late in a long flight and unable to climb enough to cross the ridges for home, the pilot worked down toward a safety area, left its glide range, and soared a crest in the lee of higher ground — lift weak and broken, downdrafts likely. Over forest with no field in reach, he worked faint lift in figure-eights at low height, then lost control with no room to recover. The investigation could not pin the trigger; fatigue and possible hypoxia might have contributed, and incapacitation was not ruled out.
- Long flight, could not climb home: Late in a long flight, the pilot could not climb enough to cross the ridges back to his airfield.
- Left glide range of the safety area: He worked down toward a mountain safety area but left its glide range.
- Ridge masked in the lee: He slope-soared a crest lying in the lee of higher ground, where the lift was weak and irregular and downdrafts likely.
- Low over forest, no field in reach: Over forest with no reachable outlanding, he flew figure-eights at low height near a ravine to work faint lift.
- Lost control into the slope: He lost control at low height with no room to recover and the glider struck the wooded slope; the pilot was killed.