K 7 circles past pattern position in headwind, outlands on sports field

A Schleicher K 7 outlanded on a sports field inside Detmold (Germany); both occupants were uninjured and the glider was destroyed. After a winch launch from EDLJ the pilot released at about 460 m AGL. Past the abeam point the pilot flew a full left circle in the pattern, lost about 100 m, and ended up roughly 1,200 m short of the field. The downwind approach over 25 m trees in a 100-110 degree wind at 15-20 kt left no room to slow, so the pilot sideslipped and steered between two trees to absorb energy, shearing off the wings. The report identified the in-pattern 360 as the start of the unsafe sequence.

1. Pattern flight after winch launch: Schleicher K 7 winch-launched from Detmold (EDLJ) at 17:14 LT with pilot + passenger for a sightseeing flight. Release at ~460 m AGL after a normal launch. The pilot had completed 6 prior winch starts that day (4 on K 7, 2 on ASK 21). Wind 100-110° at 15-20 kt; visibility >8 km.
2. Full circle past abeam in pattern: Past the abeam position — approximately where the final-approach turn should have begun — the pilot flew a full left circle in the pattern at ~180 m above airfield level. The German DAeC Segelflugsport-Betriebsordnung (SBO § 4.1.1) explicitly prohibits circles or reversal turns after passing the abeam landing position.
3. Airfield unreachable after circle: The circle cost ~100 m and left the K 7 ~1,200 m short of the airfield. Combined with headwind toward the field and built-up terrain between the K 7 and the runway, returning was no longer feasible.
4. Outland on city green space: The pilot chose to outland on a sports-field-sized green space inside the eastern part of Detmold city — described as the only suitable open area, free of people. The field measured ~140 m diagonally and was surrounded by buildings and trees up to ~25 m high.
5. Downwind approach over tall trees: The pilot used a shortened right pattern and approached from the east with a tailwind, crossing ~25 m trees on the upwind boundary of the field. With wind 100-110°/15-20 kt the landing was effectively downwind.
6. Too fast; sideslip + tree-between: After crossing the trees the pilot could not get the K 7 down at landing speed. A sideslip was used to lose altitude. At the far end of the field the pilot deliberately steered the K 7 between two trees ~10 m apart on a public path to dissipate the remaining energy.
7. Wings sheared; K 7 destroyed: On contact with the trees both wings were sheared off and the K 7 stopped abruptly. The bare fuselage rested upright on the path, nose against a low wall. Empennage segments and parts of the wings were scattered. Total flight time ~5 minutes. Both occupants uninjured.