ASH 26 spins into terrain after stalling in a spiral below the crest

A pilot was fatally injured when an ASH 26 stalled and spun into a mountain slope; the glider was destroyed. Below the Soleil Bœuf crest in a west wind, he slope-soared the face in figure-eights and circles. A strong gust-driven climb by a rocky spur probably read as a thermal, so he spiralled facing the slope, below the crest and too close. The wind drifted the glider toward the rock; tightening the turn to avoid it raised the load factor until the glider stalled and spun in, too low to recover. No technical fault was found.

1. Slope-soaring under the crest: The pilot worked the mountain face below the Soleil Bœuf crest in a 15 kt west wind.
2. Gust misread as a thermal: A strong gust-driven climb near a rocky spur probably read as thermal lift.
3. Spiral begun facing the slope: He began a spiral below the crest and too close laterally, facing the rock.
4. Wind drifted glider to slope: The west wind carried the glider toward the rock during the turn.
5. Turn tightened to avoid rock: To miss the slope he steepened the bank and pulled, raising the load factor.
6. Stalled, spun into terrain: The glider stalled, spun about two turns, and struck the slope too low to recover.