What happened
A commercial pilot was performing the third leg of a 300 km soaring triangle flight when the accident occurred. While in radio contact with the aircraft, the glider owner reported that the pilot had the airfield in sight approximately 8 miles from the airport.
The glider entered the traffic pattern for runway 15 and was in the process of turning base when it entered a spin. Witnesses at the scene provided accounts of the descent; one observer noted the aircraft banked, appeared to stall, and spiraled counter-clockwise in a nose-low attitude. Another witness located approximately one block from the site reported seeing the aircraft spinning rapidly and falling nose-first.
The aircraft impacted the ground and came to rest roughly 1/4 mile from the approach end of the runway. The pilot, who had accumulated 270 total glider flight hours and 5 flight hours in this specific make and model, was killed in the impact.