Arcus T stalls a metre above a golf course on an outlanding

Both occupants were unhurt but the Arcus T was badly damaged in an outlanding on a golf course at Sankt Michael im Lungau. Nine hours into a cross-country the glider lost height near Mauterndorf; the pilot started the sustainer at 1650 m MSL, but gusty sink made the airfield unsafe to reach, so the pilot turned back for a clear strip on the course, engine off but still extended. Abeam the course at 200 m AGL a strong westerly wind set in. The approach was steady at 110 km/h with 3 to 5 m/s of sink until the pilot stalled it about a metre up. The main gear sank into the soft turf, retracted, and the glider slid 50 m on its belly.

1. Long cross-country from Feldkirchen: The Arcus T launched in the late morning with a passenger for a cross-country over the Carinthian and Salzburg Alps, planned to return to its home field.
2. Height lost near Mauterndorf: After Mauterndorf the glider lost height south-east of the Hollerberg, and the pilot started the sustainer at about 1650 m MSL at 90 to 100 km/h.
3. Gusty sink rules out the airfield: Gusty and generally adverse sink made overflying the village and the Hollerberg to reach Mauterndorf unsafe, so the pilot committed to an outlanding.
4. Downwind turn to the golf course: The pilot turned back for a clear strip on the golf course, downwind at that point, and shut the engine down though it stayed extended. Abeam the course at 200 m AGL a strong westerly wind set in.
5. Stall about a metre up: The approach was steady at about 110 km/h with 3 to 5 m/s of sink; the pilot stalled the aircraft about 1 m above the turf and it touched down hard.
6. Gear folds, 50 m belly slide: The main gear sank into the soft turf and retracted; the glider slid about 50 m on the fuselage, turning some 120 degrees left, and the fuselage broke behind the engine bulkhead.