Accident to the ROLLADEN SCHNEIDER - LS8 - A registered HB-3297 on 16/07/2019 at Thorame-Basse (Alpes-de-Haute-Provence)

The pilot flew along the ridge on the south side of Cheval Blanc mountain in a westerly direction. He circled a 2,307-m peak that was on his flight path. At the end of this manoeuvre, the glider was below the level of the ridge at a low height in respect of the slope. The pilot nevertheless continued in the direction of Baisse de Paluet. When he realized that he would not be able to clear the terrain ahead of him, he felt that he could no longer turn safely towards the valley and made a forced landing on the side of the mountain.

The pilot's decision to continue the flight in unfavourable conditions forced him to land on an unsuitable surface.