What happened
While flying on a downwind leg toward a gliderport, the pilot observed a tow airplane and another glider occupying the runway. To allow these aircraft to depart the field, the pilot chose to extend the downwind leg of the pattern.
Upon turning to the final approach for the runway, the glider encountered an unexpected headwind. During this approach, the pilot identified a row of trees ahead that appeared impossible to clear. In response, the pilot executed a turn to the right to attempt a landing in an adjacent field. During this maneuver, the airspeed decreased excessively. At approximately 30 feet above ground level, the glider stalled and spun to the right, resulting in an impact with the terrain. The pilot was not injured.
Findings
- The pilot allowed the airspeed to become too low during the maneuver.