Accident to the Schempp Hirth - Ventus 2B registered F-CIJT on 19/08/2020 at Saint-André-les-Alpes (Alpes-de-Haute-Provence)

Cat. 2 investigation report: simplified-format report, adapted to the circumstances of the occurrence and the investigation stakes.

After more than five flight hours, as the pilot was not able to gain altitude to cross the Teillon massif and thus reach Fayence aerodrome, he probably decided to draw closer to the
La Mûre safe landing area located north of his position. On his route, he exited the vicinity of the La Mûre safe landing area and performed slope soaring along the Grau ridge, which was then downwind of another ridge and probably subject to downdrafts. It is possible that after a succession of poor choices, the pilot lost control at low height at the edge of the ravine, where there was probably thermal convection that he tried to use at low height. The height of the glider and the distance from the slope at that time did not allow him to avoid collision with the terrain.
The investigation was unable to rule out a possible pilot incapacitation.