Two Orlíks collide in a shared thermal at a vintage-glider competition

During a vintage-glider competition task near Trutnov, a VT 116 Orlík II joining a thermal collided at about 600 m AGL with a VT 16 Orlík circling in it; the Orlík lost its tail and its pilot was fatally injured, while the Orlík II was substantially damaged and landed nearby. The joining pilot, flying faster on a straight track, saw the Orlík circling on his left about 230 m away and judged it to be in a different thermal. He aimed between it and a third glider, began a gentle left turn while watching the third one, and lost sight of the Orlík. Its pilot was turning toward the sun and was very probably dazzled.

1. Competition task over Trutnov: Both pilots were flying a task in a historic-glider competition. Over Trutnov the VT 16 Orlík was circling left in a thermal at about 600 m AGL, with a third glider circling nearby.
2. Joining between two gliders: The Orlík II arrived on a straight southerly track, faster than the circling Orlík. Its pilot judged the two gliders to be in separate thermals and aimed between them, about 230 m from the Orlík.
3. Circling glider lost from view: He flew on briefly to gain distance, then began a gentle left turn while watching the third glider, and lost sight of the Orlík circling close on his left.
4. Sun ahead of the circling pilot: The Orlík was turning left roughly toward the sun, 42° above the horizon, which very probably limited its pilot's view of the Orlík II approaching from the right.
5. Tail torn off in the collision: The underside of the Orlík's rear fuselage struck the top of the Orlík II's left wing leading edge. The Orlík's right tailplane broke off and its tail section failed.
6. Falls into a maize field: The tailless Orlík rotated down and struck a maize field almost vertically; its pilot did not bail out. The Orlík II pilot checked the controls and landed at a nearby strip.