Incident Overview
A pilot reported that a glider was towed to an altitude of 2,000 feet above ground level, released, and flown without incident for more than two hours. During the flight, the pilot was searching for lift and performing S-turns while flying away from a ridgeline.
Encounter with Lift and Downdraft
While executing an S-turn, the glider encountered a 200 to 300 foot increase in lift. The pilot elected to continue turning to the left. As the glider turned directly toward the ridgeline, it encountered a large downdraft and loss of airspeed.
Stall and Spin
The glider stalled, spun to the left, and immediately struck trees. The impact caused the tail boom to separate and substantially damaged both wings.
Pilot Statements
The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures during the flight. He stated that he should not have continued the left turn and that standard training techniques call for continuing S-turns when close to ridges or mountains until at least 200 to 300 feet above the highest point, which would provide adequate altitude to recover from possible stalls caused by wind gusts.