What happened
On May 9, 2008, a DG 808 C glider with a retractable engine departed from Unterwössen airfield via aero-tow. Approximately three minutes into the flight, the aircraft was released at an altitude of 340 meters near Landerhausen. The pilot initially operated with the engine extended, flying west and climbing to an altitude of approximately 2,850 meters near Nußdorf am Inn by 09:38.
According to GPS flight data, the pilot then decided to continue the flight in a pure gliding mode with the engine retracted. The flight path proceeded west over Bad Feilnbach and Oberwarngau. At approximately 10:00, the pilot changed course to the south, passing east of Waakirchen toward Wachselmoos-Alm. By 10:05, the aircraft had descended to an altitude of about 530 meters.
Three minutes later, the glider reached an altitude of approximately 170 meters over the Raueckalm terrain. The pilot attempted to utilize weak thermal currents, but this resulted in a loss of altitude. While attempting to find thermal lift below 100 meters, the aircraft entered a near-vertical descent and struck a snow-covered, steep mountainside at approximately 10:13. The impact resulted in the fatal injury of the pilot and the total destruction of the aircraft.
The investigation
The investigation examined the flight path using data retrieved from onboard GPS recording devices. The accident site was identified as a steep, snow-covered slope at an elevation of approximately 1,400 meters, located near Kreuth and Rottach-Egern.
Examination of the wreckage revealed that the cockpit was shattered and the fuselage had broken away behind the wing assembly upon impact. The investigation found no evidence of mechanical or technical failures in the aircraft prior to the crash. Meteorological conditions at the time were visual flight rules (VFR) with nearly cloudless skies and winds from 150 degrees at 8 to 10 knots.