Ventus cM stalls over a vineyard after three failed engine starts

Cross-country from Břeclav with no climb to be found near Znojmo: the pilot of a Ventus cM began three unsuccessful engine starts with 400 to 500 m left, then stalled turning into wind low over a vineyard he had not known of; he was seriously injured and the glider destroyed. The extended engine that would not run cut the glide from 47:1 to 28:1, and three descending left turns used up the height that remained. Levelling partly in right bank, he snapped a concrete fence post with the right wing; the glider hit the ground 13 m on, bounced and slid to a stop. Znojmo airfield lay 4.5 km ahead and within glide when the first turn began.

1. No climb found near Znojmo: The pilot self-launched at Břeclav for a task of about 700 km and joined it ten minutes later. Near Znojmo, some 50 minutes into the flight, he found no thermal and kept searching as his height fell.
2. Engine start begun at 400 m: At about 400 to 500 m above the ground he extended the engine and began the starting drill, without first turning towards a landing field. The manual ties the safe start height to the ground below.
3. Three attempts, engine only turns: The engine turned over but did not fire on any of three attempts. He used his usual drill, not the cold-engine one with the primer bulb, since it had run that morning. Fuel and compression were there.
4. Three turns down over a vineyard: With the engine out and idle the glide fell from 47:1 to 28:1 and the sink rose. He flew three left turns down to low level, the last two towards and then over a vineyard he said he had not known of.
5. Stall in the turn into wind: Turning into a headwind that cut his groundspeed to 28 km/h, the glider reached 60 km/h indicated and dropped a wing just above the ground. No height remained to stow the engine or lower the wheel.
6. Right wing snaps a fence post: He levelled partly in right bank and the right wing broke a concrete post of the vineyard fence. The glider struck the ground 13 m on, bounced 4.5 m and slid 12 m. He was seriously injured.