LS 4 hits trees short of the field after heavy sink behind other traffic

A student pilot suffered minor injuries when an LS 4 undershot into trees on the approach and crashed in a meadow; the glider was substantially damaged. Setting up to land behind a two-seat trainer already in the pattern, the student flew an extra circle at about 250 m to keep his distance, but during it he met very strong sink. He announced a landing from an unusual position and lowered the gear; approaching from the north-west the glider clipped the tops of a wood and, just past the tree line, struck a meadow with a 90-degree turn to the right. The facts-only report found no technical or weather anomaly and stated no cause.

1. Student on a local training flight: A 57-year-old student pilot winch-launched an LS 4 at Schwarze Heide for a local thermal training flight, with about 21 hours on type.
2. Extra circle to space behind traffic: Setting up to land behind a two-seat trainer in the pattern, he flew an extra circle at about 250 m to keep his distance.
3. Caught in very strong sink: During the circle the glider met very strong sink; he announced a landing from an unusual position and lowered the gear.
4. Arrives low over a wood: Approaching low from the north-west, the glider reached a wood short of the field.
5. Clips trees, crashes in a meadow: It clipped the treetops and, just past the tree line, struck a meadow with a 90° turn to the right; the glider was substantially damaged and the student slightly hurt.