Incident
A glider accident occurred after a fifteen-minute flight when the pilot attempted to land on a grass airstrip. The glider struck a tree during maneuvering and cartwheeled into a field, resulting in structural damage.
Sequence of Events
The pilot entered the traffic pattern for a planned full-stop landing on a grass airstrip running adjacent to an active paved runway. While on downwind leg, the pilot extended the leg to increase separation from a powered airplane landing on the paved runway. After rolling out on base leg, the pilot realized the downwind leg had been extended too far to reach the grass strip under gusting wind conditions. The pilot then decided to land in a field short of the grass runway. While maneuvering to land in that field, the pilot failed to maintain clearance from a nearby tree. The wing of the glider hit the tree, causing the glider to cartwheel into the field.
Damage
The glider sustained wrinkling and crushing damage to both wings and the fuselage.
Probable Cause
Not stated in source.