Discus-2cT stalls in a tight circle below summit level

The pilot was killed and the glider destroyed when it stalled while circling close to a mountainside and struck rock. Four and a half hours into a cross-country from Bavaria, on the way home, the pilot worked lift over a cirque at about 100 m AGL, sustainer stowed. In a right turn it climbed to roughly 2350 m MSL, and the pilot held the turn towards steeply rising terrain. Less than half way round the first full circle the glider had a tailwind and began to sink below the surrounding summits. Tightening the radius and pulling to hold height, the pilot stalled it, and there was too little height left to regain a stable attitude.

1. Alpine cross-country, homeward leg: The pilot had been airborne about four and a half hours on a cross-country from Bavaria across the Tyrolean and Salzburg Alps, and was heading north-west from the southern turnpoint.
2. 58 hours in two years: The pilot held about 711 flying hours in total but had flown 58 hours on 34 launches in the previous two years; the investigation rated the training state as moderate.
3. Circling over a cirque at 100 m AGL: Over a cirque the pilot worked a lift area at about 100 m AGL, apparently in relatively tight circles, with the sustainer stowed.
4. Turn held towards rising terrain: The pilot turned right and climbed to roughly 2350 m MSL, then held the turn, which pointed the glider at steeply rising ground.
5. Tailwind, sinking below the summits: Less than half way round the first full circle the glider had a tailwind and began to sink, dropping below the level of the surrounding summits.
6. Stall and impact with rock: Tightening the radius and pulling to hold height, the pilot stalled the glider. Too little height remained to regain a stable attitude and it struck rocky ground. The pilot was killed.