DG-808B spins from low circles at a lee-side thermal trigger point

The pilot was lightly injured and the glider destroyed when it spun into woodland from a low thermalling turn. After a winch launch he had tried two known thermal trigger points without result and was circling low at a third, on the lee side of the Pfenningberg. The glider rolled sharply, which the pilot put down to a gust or an asymmetric thermal pass; he countered with aileron, a one-sided stall followed and it spun at 100 to 150 m AGL. He stopped the spin and pulled out, but the height was gone and it touched trees.

1. Winch launch and thermal search: The pilot winch-launched from Linz-Ost at about 11:30 UTC and flew to the Pfenningberg, where he knew several thermal trigger points.
2. Two trigger points, no lift: He tried two of the known trigger points without meeting enough lift and moved on to a third, on the lee (south) side of the Pfenningberg.
3. Full circles at low height: At the third trigger point he flew several full circles at low height.
4. Sharp roll: The glider was abruptly rotated about its longitudinal axis. The pilot attributed this to a gust or to crossing the thermal core asymmetrically.
5. One-sided stall and spin: He countered the roll with aileron; a one-sided stall followed and the glider entered a spin at about 100 to 150 m AGL.
6. Recovered, but out of height: He stopped the spin and pulled out, but the height lost meant the glider touched trees and fell into the wood. Both 18 m wings caught branches, slowing the ground impact.