DG-400 circling in lift collides with a paraglider unseen until impact

A paraglider pilot was seriously injured and his canopy destroyed when a circling DG-400 struck it at about 2700 m. The DG-400 pilot had found lift at a crest and was circling at about 60 deg bank; the paraglider was tracking west at the same height. The DG-400 pilot saw it from below left only as it hit. The glider pitched about 45 deg nose-down; he recovered and landed at Altenrhein with both wings damaged. The paraglider pilot deployed his reserve and landed at about 2300 m. Recorded cause: late recognition of the collision danger, with both pilots' view restricted and no FLARM on the paraglider.

1. Lift found at a crest: After crossing the Arlberg pass the pilot turned left towards a mountain crest and found lift there.
2. Circling at 60 deg bank: He circled clockwise at about 60 deg bank and about 110 km/h, climbing at about 1.5 m/s.
3. Paraglider at the same height: A paraglider was tracking west over the same ground at about 2700 m, the height at which the glider was circling.
4. Neither aircraft seen in time: The bank angle restricted the glider pilot's view, and the canopy restricted the paraglider pilot's view upwards. The paraglider carried no FLARM.
5. Collision: The glider pilot saw a red canopy from below left only as it struck. Both wing leading edges and the left trailing edge were damaged; the paraglider was destroyed.
6. Recovery and reserve landing: The glider pitched about 45 deg nose-down and the pilot recovered with the elevator, landing at Altenrhein. The paraglider pilot deployed his reserve and landed at about 2300 m, seriously injured.