What happened
During a flight involving a tow plane and a glider, the aircraft was performing a right downwind turn at 500 feet above ground level. At this altitude, the student pilot deployed the spoilers. The certified flight instructor (CFI) subsequently released the glider from the tow plane and secured the spoiler handle.
The instructor intended to land the aircraft on an airport runway; however, the student pilot became "frozen" on the flight controls. Because the student failed to release the controls in a timely manner, the aircraft could no longer reach the intended runway. The CFI was forced to execute an emergency landing on an airport access road.
During the approach to the ground, the left wing of the glider struck a 4-foot-tall sagebrush. This impact caused the aircraft to turn before it ultimately impacted the shoulder of the access road. There were no injuries reported in the accident.