Jantar Standard 3 strikes trees crossing forest on low final glide

The pilot of an SZD-48-3 Jantar Standard 3 was lightly injured in a tree-strike on the final glide back to Klix; aircraft substantially damaged. Returning from a ~316 km competition task, the pilot left the last thermal at ~700 m AGL with 19 km still to run. At 5 km out the glider was at ~150 m AGL; at 2 km out, below 50 m AGL with a 1.6 km belt of ~20 m conifers still ahead. ~60 m before the forest edge the glider contacted treetops from ~40 m AGL and fell near-vertically through the canopy; the cockpit struck the ground. Outlanding fields between the forest belts were available but the low approach was continued.

1. Competition final glide to Klix: After about five hours on a 316 km competition task launched by aerotow from Klix, the pilot returned for the final glide. The last thermal was left at ~700 m AGL with 19 km still to run to the field.
2. Limited competition XC experience: The pilot held a glider licence since 2003 and had ~757 h total experience with 41 h on type and 11 flights in the last 90 days. Cross-country experience in competitions was limited.
3. Pressed on past outlanding options: After the last turnpoint at ~420 m AGL the glide ran east into a crosswind from the left across several wooded belts. Height was lost at a near-constant rate of about 1 m per 30 m of track. Although suitable outlanding fields existed between the forest belts, the approach was continued.
4. Below 50 m AGL with forest ahead: At 5 km from the field the glider was at ~150 m AGL; at 2 km out, below 50 m AGL with a 1.6 km belt of ~20 m conifers still to be crossed before reaching the runway.
5. Treetop contact at ~40 m AGL: At ~40 m AGL the overflight of the last forest began. About 60 m before the far edge of the wood the glider contacted the treetops and dropped near-vertically through the dense conifer canopy.
6. Pilot injured; aircraft damaged: The cockpit struck the ground at high pitch attitude; the cockpit broke and the empennage was substantially damaged. The pilot sustained cuts and was held 24 hours for observation. No technical defects were found on the airframe.