What happened
On July 8, 2023, at approximately 13:34, a DG 400 glider departed from the Ohlstadt-Pömetsried airfield in a winch tow operation behind an ultralight aircraft. Prior to this takeoff, the pilot had attempted an engine-start takeoff but was forced to land immediately due to engine issues.
The tow flight proceeded southwest toward the Ettaler Mannl in the Ammergau Alps. During the tow, near the Soilasee area, the glider pilot released the tow rope unexpectedly early. The tow pilot reported that approximately 20 seconds after the release, they heard an expletive over the radio, prompting them to turn back and discover the wreckage on the mountainside.
Witnesses on the ground observed the glider flying at high speed toward the mountain without any change in direction. Just before impact, the aircraft appeared to pull upward with a whistling sound. The DG 400 collided with the terrain at an altitude of 1,690 m AMSL, approximately 35 m below the ridge. The pilot sustained fatal injuries, and the aircraft was destroyed.
The investigation
The BFU examined GPS data from a FLARM collision warning device, which provided the flight path up to the final seconds. The data revealed that the tow was steady and included a full circle halfway through the tow. Following the release, the glider initially flew southwest for about 500 m, gaining 25 m in altitude, before entering a descent. During this turn, the aircraft lost approximately 170 m of altitude at a sink rate of 10 m/s.
Investigators also examined the wreckage and found no evidence of technical malfunctions or fire. The investigation also considered witness statements and the pilot's recent flight history, noting that the pilot had experienced a hard landing earlier that day following the aborted engine-start attempt.