Accident to the DG LS8 registered HB-2550 on 06/04/2023 at Thorame-Basse
Collision with tree during an off-field landing
When the pilot entered Thorame-Basse valley, he remained on the lee side of the terrain and encountered an area of subsiding air. He tried to gain altitude by performing spirals but did not manage to find uplifts. He might have been able to find uplifts upwind of the terrain south of Thorame-Basse. He finally decided to land in a field that he considered suitable for an off-field landing.
During the flare, the left wing struck the ground when the speed of the glider was still significant. The pilot lost control of the glider which continued its run to the end of the field and then collided with a tree. It is possible that the glider experienced a tailwind gust on short final which would have extended the landing distance.