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. An additional circle was flown abeam the position at ~150 m AGL before a shortened pattern was attempted. 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. Release occurred at ~300 m AGL. The student thermalled briefly in search of lift before joining the circuit. Light easterly wind at 2 kt, 32 °C, VFR conditions.
2. Recall to circuit: The instructor on the ground instructed the student by radio to enter the traffic pattern. The student had ~57 h total experience, of which ~43 h on the Ka 6 CR, and had flown 25 glider flights in the preceding 90 days.
3. Supervised solo training flight: The flight was a supervised solo training sortie. Coordination with the instructor was via radio on the field frequency; no second pilot was on board to assist with circuit geometry or airspeed management.
4. Extra circle, then shortened pattern: Abeam the position at ~150 m AGL the student flew an additional circle before attempting a shortened landing pattern. The deviation from a standard rectangular circuit reduced the margin available for managing height and airspeed on the way 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. Impact with the ~1.20 m crop occurred ~20 m north of the grass strip at ~30° nose-down attitude. The forward fuselage was compressed, both wings damaged, and the canopy cracked.
6. Pilot seriously injured: The student pilot was seriously injured; the Ka 6 CR was substantially damaged. No technical defects were found during the post-accident inspection; the investigation was closed as a facts-only report with no probable cause attributed.