SZD-59 Acro stalls on a low approach after a late outlanding decision

A pilot was killed and the SZD-59 Acro destroyed in an outlanding near Kalwang, in the Liesing valley. Released from aerotow at 1,600 m MSL on a cross-country, the pilot sank into the valley with little lift and flew several low turns over the ground. A listed outlanding meadow was passed while still reachable, but the flight went on towards the home airfield. Committing late to a field, the pilot apparently let the speed fall to the stall on the low approach; the glider sank to the ground beside a line of trees. Neither a technical defect nor the weather was causal.

1. Cross-country from Timmersdorf: The glider was towed off Leoben/Timmersdorf in the morning and released at about 1,600 m MSL for a cross-country towards the Dachstein.
2. Descent into the Liesing valley: The pilot flew west along the south side of the Eisenerzer Alpen, then descended near the Schoberpass into the Liesing valley and followed it east.
3. Reachable meadow left behind: A listed outlanding meadow near Kalwang was passed at a height from which it could still have been reached; the flight went on towards the home airfield in search of lift.
4. Low turns over the valley floor: Between Kalwang and Mautern the pilot flew several turns at very low height above the ground on the north side of the valley.
5. Speed falls to the stall: With the home airfield out of reach, the pilot turned for a field; on the low approach the airspeed apparently fell to the stall speed and the glider sank.
6. Impact beside a shelterbelt: The glider struck the ground beside a line of trees bordering a meadow south of the B113. The pilot was killed and the glider destroyed; the wreck was found overnight from its beacon.