Ka 6 CR wing-drops from low altitude in shortened landing pattern

The student pilot of a Ka 6 CR was seriously injured when the glider dropped a wing from low altitude on a shortened landing pattern at Singhofen; aircraft substantially damaged. On a solo training flight under instructor radio supervision, the student released from a winch at ~300 m AGL and thermalled briefly before being instructed to join the circuit. He flew an additional circle abeam the position at ~150 m AGL before attempting a shortened pattern. While overflying an adjacent rapeseed field the glider dropped a wing and struck the ~1.20 m crop ~20 m north of the strip. No technical defects were found.

1. Winch launch and thermalling: A Ka 6 CR was winch-launched from Singhofen, a grass strip with RWY 22 in use, on a solo training flight under instructor radio supervision, releasing at about 300 m AGL.
2. Recall to circuit: The instructor on the ground radioed the student to enter the traffic pattern after a brief search for lift.
3. Supervised solo training flight: The flight was a supervised solo sortie coordinated by radio with the instructor on the ground; no second pilot was on board to assist with circuit or airspeed management.
4. Extra circle, then shortened pattern: Abeam the field at about 150 m AGL the student flew an additional circle, then attempted a shortened landing pattern that left less margin for managing height and airspeed to the threshold.
5. Wing-drop from low altitude: While overflying a rapeseed field bordering the airfield, the glider dropped a wing from low altitude and struck the ~1.20 m crop at about 30° nose-down, crushing the forward fuselage.
6. Pilot seriously injured: The student pilot was seriously injured and the Ka 6 CR substantially damaged; no technical defects were found in the post-accident inspection.