Incident Overview
A glider accident occurred during a tow operation, as reported by the glider pilot and the tow pilot. The glider pilot stated that he "cracked" open the spoilers during the tow due to turbulent air conditions. Immediately after releasing from the tow airplane, the glider entered a nose-down attitude. The tow pilot radioed that the spoilers were deployed. The glider pilot retracted the spoilers and attempted to gain altitude but found no lift. He observed a golf course to the north but determined he could not reach the intended landing area and chose a field with small trees.
Tow Pilot's Account
The tow pilot, who was flying the tow airplane, reported that after about 15 minutes of flight to the glide area, the glider was released and began a nose-down descent toward the ground. She noted that the glider's dive brakes were deployed. The tow pilot radioed the glider pilot, asking if everything was "ok." The glider pilot responded with what the tow pilot interpreted as an "affirmative," but later it was determined that the response was actually a "negative." The tow pilot continued to observe the glider in a sharp dive until it impacted trees.
Post-Accident Examination
A post-accident examination of the glider revealed substantial damage to the left and right wing leading edges and the empennage, consistent with impact with trees. Control continuity was verified from the flight controls to all surfaces. The glider pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.