Incident Details
The pilot of a glider was providing an introductory flight to a new glider club member. According to the pilot, the flight was "normal with good lift," and the glider remained within 3 miles of the airport. The pilot entered the traffic pattern for landing on runway 16.
On final approach, approximately 3/4 mile from the runway threshold, the pilot felt the glider sink and realized he was becoming too low to reach the runway. The terrain beyond the end of the runway was covered with juniper trees and sagebrush. The pilot turned left to land off-airport in what he described as the "only open spot."
Damage
During the landing, the left wing struck a tree, and the right wing tip then struck the ground. The right wing and fuselage sustained structural damage.
Pilot's Account
The pilot stated that from an altitude of 1,000 feet above ground level, the glider "should be able to fly 3 miles," but he "lost 800 feet in less than 1/2 mile."