LS7 loses control on the lee side of a ridge in strong wind

The pilot was killed and the glider destroyed after a loss of control on the lee side of a ridge during slope soaring in strong wind. Aerotowed to a nearby peak, the pilot worked the north face at about 700 m in a strong, gusty wind, but height was hard to gain. Crossing the crest at only about 70 m, the glider passed onto the lee side and probably met rotors; too close to the terrain to recover, control was lost and it struck the ground nose-down. Investigators noted that entering the lee of a ridge in strong wind, with severe low-level turbulence and rotors, is extremely dangerous.

1. Slope-soaring a ridge in strong wind: After an aerotow to a nearby peak, the pilot slope-soared the north face at about 700 m in a strong, gusty wind, where height was hard to gain.
2. Crossed the crest onto the lee: During figure-eights and spirals along the ridge, the glider crossed the crest at only about 70 m and passed onto the lee side.
3. Rotors in the lee: On the lee side, in strong wind at about 40 degrees to the ridge, it probably met rotors and severe low-level turbulence.
4. Loss of control near terrain: The pilot lost control of the glider close to the terrain, with no height in hand.
5. No room to recover: The proximity of the relief left no room to regain control and escape before impact.
6. Steep impact with the ground: The glider struck the ground steeply nose-down; the pilot was killed and the glider destroyed.