What happened
The accident occurred while a student pilot was operating a glider. The flight began with the aircraft being towed to an altitude of three thousand feet above ground level (AGL). At this point, the student pilot released from the tow rope.
After release, the pilot attempted to locate thermal lift to maintain altitude but was unsuccessful. Unable to sustain height, the pilot decided to return to the gliderport for a landing. During the approach phase, specifically on low final, the left wing of the glider impacted a line of trees. The force of the impact caused the glider to rotate into the tree canopy, where it became lodged.
Findings
Post-accident analysis included the pilot's own assessment of the event. The pilot stated that the accident could have been avoided through better landing preparation and by planning a higher traffic pattern altitude during the approach.