Discus CS strikes a rock face with a wingtip while circling at a ridge edge

On a soaring flight over the Rax above Reichenau, a pilot was killed and the Discus CS destroyed against a rock face. He had winch-launched from Wiener Neustadt West at about 09:00. Around 09:40 the pilot was seen running the ridge west-south-west, turning left out over the edge and starting to circle. He lost height in the turn but went on circling, closed with the edge again, and the right wingtip struck the rock face. The right wing broke into several pieces; the glider went out of control, hit the ground and slid down a scree gully.

1. Soaring flight from Wiener Neustadt: The pilot winch-launched from Wiener Neustadt West at about 09:00 for a soaring flight and was over the Rax about forty minutes later.
2. Running the ridge west-south-west: Coming from the east, the glider was seen tracking along the ridge line west-south-west towards the Otto-Schutzhaus.
3. Left turn out beyond the edge: The pilot turned left and flew a left-hand turn out past the edge, then began circling there.
4. Circling down towards the face: The glider lost height through the turn but the circling went on, bringing it back towards the edge near the Törlweg.
5. Wingtip catches the rock face: The right wingtip struck the rock face. The right wing broke into several pieces, the glider went out of control, hit the ground and slid down a scree gully.