SZD-55-1 strikes rising terrain circling for lift in strong föhn turbulence

A pilot was killed and the SZD-55-1 destroyed on a cross-country from Micheldorf, against rising ground on the Plattenkopf. A lively southerly with strong föhn and low-level turbulence lay over the mountains that day. The logger shows the glider circling shortly before the accident, apparently looking for lift, before it lost height abruptly and struck the rising ground. The pilot was reported overdue that evening; a distress signal was first placed in the wrong area, and the wreck was found late that night. No pre-existing defect that could have caused it was found.

1. Cross-country from Micheldorf: The pilot was towed off Micheldorf at about 07:34 for a cross-country to Zell am See and back.
2. Strong south föhn over the mountains: The day was flyable but carried a lively southerly with strong föhn influence and turbulence at low level, and sharply changing conditions over the ridges.
3. Circling for lift: The logger shows the glider circling shortly before the end of the recording, apparently searching for a thermal.
4. Abrupt loss of height: During the circling the glider lost height abruptly. The report puts an uncontrolled flight state and insufficient airspeed behind it as the probable mechanism.
5. Contact with rising ground: The glider met the rising ground on the Plattenkopf at about 15:38, where the logger stops. The pilot was killed and the glider destroyed.
6. Six hours to find the wreck: The glider was reported missing at 19:06. A distress signal was first placed in the Kalser Tauern; a search aircraft localised it in the Leoganger Steinberge at 21:58 and ground teams found the wreck.