Ventus b/16.6 stalls into a field in the final turn of a tailwind outlanding

On a cross-country flight from Slaný, the pilot of a Ventus b/16.6 was seriously injured and the glider destroyed when it lost speed and stalled in the final turn of a tailwind outlanding. Finding no more lift, the pilot dumped ballast and chose a grain field near Řevničov. Aware of the west to north-west wind, he opted to land eastwards for the better terrain profile. He joined the last two turns with landing flap and airbrakes out; completing the final turn, the glider lost speed and dropped its right wing into the field. The cause was given as piloting that let the speed decay in the final turn, with the tailwind as a contributing factor.

1. Cross-country from Slaný: The pilot was aerotowed from Slaný at 11:33 for a cross-country thermal flight with 80 l of water ballast and released at about 1,050 m MSL.
2. No lift, field chosen: After one climb below the Prague TMA he found no usable lift further west, began dumping ballast and, after turns in weak thermals, chose a grain field near Řevničov.
3. Tailwind landing chosen: Aware of the west to north-west wind, about 20 km/h, the pilot planned a right-hand circuit to land eastwards because the terrain profile suited it better.
4. Speed lost in the final turn: Planning to fly the third and fourth turns as one, the pilot set landing flap and extended the airbrakes; completing the final turn, the glider lost speed.
5. Right wing drops into the field: The glider stalled and dropped its right wing; the wingtip, then the forward fuselage, struck the field and it slid about 40 m, swinging round 160°. The pilot was seriously injured.