Puchacz return below pattern altitude; strong sink, forest impact

The pilot and passenger of a Puchacz (SZD-50-3) were seriously injured on a sightseeing flight from Schwarzheide. After release the glider thermalled to ~1,000 m GND north of the airfield, then ranged 5 km NW and 4 km south to Lauchhammer at 550 m GND. About 3 km into the eastward return toward the airfield, at ~200 m GND — below pattern altitude for a normal return — the glider made a left turn to 280°. Over the next 600 m it descended to 80 m GND with sink exceeding 6 m/s. Impact in a 20 m pine forest ~2 km NW of the airfield; aft fuselage separated behind the wings. The aircraft was destroyed.

1. Aerotow + thermal local flight: The glider took off on aerotow for a sightseeing flight, released over Senftenberg, then thermalled west and climbed to about 1,000 m about 4 km north of the airfield.
2. Extended distance from airfield: After the high point the glider flew 5 km NW past it, then ~4 km south, reaching Lauchhammer at 12:10 at 550 m GND — now ~6 km SW of the airfield with progressively less altitude margin.
3. Below pattern altitude on return: About 3 km into the eastward return toward Schwarzheide, the glider was down to about 200 m GND, below normal pattern altitude, against an 8 kt easterly headwind.
4. High sink encounter at low altitude: From ~200 m GND the glider made a left turn to a 280° heading and over the next ~600 m descended to 80 m GND with a sink rate exceeding 6 m/s. GPS recording ends at 12:15 at 80 m GND.
5. Pine forest impact - both injured: The glider struck a 20 m tall pine forest about 2 km northwest of the airfield; the aft fuselage separated behind the wings and both occupants were seriously injured.