Incident Overview
A student pilot was conducting the first flight of the day in a glider. After a preflight inspection that revealed no anomalies, the tow began from the normal point about midway down runway 23L. As the glider reached approximately 10 feet in altitude, the pilot heard a metallic flapping sound.
Flight and Release
Believing the noise might indicate a structural problem, the pilot released from the tow plane immediately after the sound occurred. While searching for a suitable landing area, the glider contacted the ground and bounced.
Impact Sequence
Following the bounce, the glider struck a cactus plant about 1,200 feet from the runway. The pilot then lost control. The right wing subsequently hit a second cactus, causing the glider to spin around. The aircraft then collided with terrain, resulting in substantial damage.
Post-Flight Examination
After the incident, examination of the glider revealed a loose wing root gap cover fairing. A ground witness reported observing the fairing come loose during the takeoff ground roll. An instructor who had flown the same glider the previous week noted that the fairing had checked good on preflight but came loose in flight. The instructor stated that the glider's handling characteristics were not affected by the loose fairing and that he had landed uneventfully.