LS 8 sinks below an alpine ridge into a forced landing on the mountainside

The pilot was injured and the glider lightly damaged in a forced landing high on a mountain slope. On a local alpine soaring flight, the pilot worked lift along the crest of the Cheval Blanc, then followed its south face westward. As the ridge rose ahead, the glider sank below the crest and was left low over the slope. Continuing toward a col, the pilot could not out-climb the rising ground and judged a turn back to the valley too risky at low speed. He put the glider down on the mountainside at about 2135 m. The investigation noted that pressing on along the ridge in worsening conditions had left no safe way out once clearance was lost.

1. Ridge soaring on the Cheval Blanc: The pilot worked lift along the crest of the Cheval Blanc, then followed its south face westward as the terrain gradually rose ahead.
2. Glider sinks below the crest: As the ridge rose ahead, the glider lost height and dropped below the crest, leaving it low over the sloping ground.
3. Turbulent air, weakening lift: The air was turbulent and no longer favourable; the glider could not hold its height against the rising terrain.
4. Cannot clear the col ahead: The pilot pressed on toward the Baisse de Paluet but could not out-climb the ground rising in front of him.
5. Forced landing on the slope: Judging a turn back to the valley too risky at low speed, the pilot committed to landing on the mountainside.
6. Landed on the mountainside: The glider touched down on the south face at about 2135 m; the pilot was injured and the glider lightly damaged.