LS4 comes down short of the runway in thunderstorm downdraughts

The pilot was seriously injured and the glider badly damaged when it came down in a meadow about 150 metres short of the runway threshold. The flight had begun with an aerotow to about 1800 metres MSL and had lasted close to three hours when the pilot turned in from the east. A thunderstorm was moving in from the south-east and had already reduced visibility, though visual conditions held. On the approach the glider met the updraughts and downdraughts running ahead of the storm and sank below the approach path. Strong gusts were recorded at a weather station north-west of the airfield.

1. Soaring flight from Lanzen-Turnau: The pilot launched by aerotow behind a Piper PA-25, released at about 1800 m MSL near the Turnauer Hochanger and soared for close to three hours.
2. Thunderstorm nears the airfield: A thunderstorm moved in from the south-east. It had already reduced visibility by the time the pilot began the approach, though visual conditions still held.
3. Approach to runway 25: At about 11:38 the pilot turned in from the east onto the approach for runway 25.
4. Gusts ahead of the storm: The air ahead of the storm carried strong updraughts and downdraughts. Strong gusts were recorded at a weather station north-west of the airfield.
5. Sinks below the approach path: The glider lost height against the intended approach path and arrived low on final, short of the runway.
6. Impact short of the threshold: The glider came down in a meadow about 150 m before the threshold of runway 25. The pilot was seriously injured and the glider was badly damaged.