What happened
On May 21, 2020, a pilot was conducting a thermal flight in a DG-100 G ELAN glider, registration OK-2620, after being towed from Benešov (LKBE) airport. While searching for rising air near Votice, the pilot encountered a breakdown in convection. At an altitude of approximately 450 m AGL, the pilot decided to return to LKBE.
Approximately 6 km from the airfield, the pilot was at an altitude of 400 m AGL but was facing a headwind and experiencing a strong sink rate of 3 m/s. Realizing that the remaining glide distance was insufficient to reach the aerodrome, the pilot opted for an off-field landing on a meadow south of LKBE. The chosen landing site was located on a slope with high grass.
To prevent potential injury from a landing gear malfunction, the pilot chose to land with the gear retracted. The glider approached the slope at a minimum speed of approximately 60 km/h. The landing resulted in a hard impact against the terrain, causing the pilot to suffer serious spinal injuries.