What happened
On October 13, 2001, a Kranich III glider, registration ZS-GMV, was involved in an accident during a training flight at New Tempe Aerodrome. The flight began with a winch launch from Runway 27, and the release cable was disconnected at an altitude of roughly 1,300 feet AGL.
While attempting to gain altitude through thermalling, the student pilot initiated a left-hand turn to position the aircraft for a downwind approach to Runway 27. During this maneuver, air traffic control informed the pilot that the wind direction had shifted to the south. As the pilot proceeded on the base leg at approximately 100 km/h, the aircraft encountered unstable air, making controlled turns difficult. This resulted in the pilot overshooting Runway 27. An attempt to pivot toward Runway 18 also failed due to the aircraft's low altitude and difficulty in executing the turn.
Seeking an alternative, the pilot attempted to reach Runway 28. Because the surrounding terrain was obstructed by anthills, the pilot tried to maintain altitude to clear the obstacles. However, the left wing struck an anthill just before touchdown, triggering a ground loop.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sequence of maneuvers and the environmental conditions at the time of the incident. Investigators examined the pilot's flight path, the reported change in wind direction, and the physical state of the aircraft following the impact. The inquiry established that the aircraft sustained substantial damage, including the separation of the left wing from the fuselage and significant damage to the right wing. There were no injuries reported for the pilot.