What happened
On May 12, 2018, a K8B glider departed from Unterwössen, Germany, for a recreational flight. After initially finding thermals and reaching a maximum altitude of approximately 1,900 meters MSL, the aircraft entered a continuous descent over the Unterinntal region. Realizing that returning to the departure airfield or reaching the nearby Kufstein-Langkampfen airfield was no longer possible, the pilot opted for an outlanding on a meadow in Wagrain-Mühltal, Austria.
At approximately 12:50 UTC, the pilot began a direct approach to the field, utilizing airbrakes and flying a side-slip maneuver with a tailwind. The aircraft touched down in the middle of the meadow at a ground speed of roughly 80 km/h. The glider traveled approximately 83 meters before encountering a steep, 10-meter-high embankment. The pilot was unable to stop the aircraft before the edge of the terrain. As the glider crossed two adjacent roads, the left wing struck a street lamp, which caused the wing to be severed mid-span and knocked the lamp over. The aircraft yawed to the left and came to rest 46 meters past the embankment. The pilot sustained one serious spinal injury, and the aircraft was destroyed.
The investigation
The investigation examined the aircraft's technical condition, the pilot's experience, the flight weather, and the landing sequence. Investigators confirmed that the pilot held valid licenses and possessed sufficient gliding experience. Technical inspections ruled out any pre-existing mechanical failures in the K8B. The investigation also reviewed the meteorological conditions, noting that while the weather was generally stable, the pilot's assessment of the wind during the final approach was a critical factor. Additionally, the investigation looked into the impact of the aircraft's seating configuration on the severity of the pilot's injuries.