Orlík II lands downwind up a 12° slope after a power line rules out the chosen field

On a vintage-glider competition task near Rtyně v Podkrkonoší the pilot of an Orlík II glided low without choosing a field and landed uphill in a steep meadow; he was seriously injured and the glider substantially damaged. Returning from the third turn point as the thermals died, he followed the valley down to below 200 m AGL, crossed the town at 100 m and turned at 80 m for a field that a power line crossed. He passed over the line and a railway at 57 m and, at 20 m with a tailwind, chose a meadow rising at about 12°. He could not flare in time; the nose hit hard and the glider slid 33 m up the slope.

1. Vintage-glider competition task: On the first task of a vintage-glider competition from Velké Poříčí the pilot rounded two turn points and was returning from the third when the lift began to fail.
2. Gliding home as the lift dies: From about 395 m above the hills he glided towards the airfield, tried once more over the slopes at about 210 m AGL, then followed the valley down from 270 to 200 m AGL without choosing a field.
3. Below 200 m with no field chosen: Some 2.5 km short of the site the glider was under 200 m AGL, sinking at 1.5 to 1.8 m/s; it crossed the town at about 100 m before the pilot turned at 80 m for a field north of it.
4. Power line across the chosen field: A high-voltage line crossed the field. The pilot passed over it and a railway at about 57 m AGL, which left a meadow on a slope rising at about 12°, steeper at the bottom and bounded by forest above.
5. Uphill landing with a tailwind: At about 20 m AGL and 85 km/h, with a 13 km/h tailwind, the pilot committed to landing up the slope. His speed was at the low end of the manual's 85 to 95 km/h approach range.
6. Nose hits the slope, 33 m slide: He could not flare in time over the rising ground; the lower nose struck hard and the glider slid 33.5 m up the meadow, breaking the right wing spar and the fuselage front and rear. He got out alone.