ASK 21 ground-loops in tall grass after scratching for lift beyond glide range

The pilot was uninjured, but the glider was substantially damaged, when it ground-looped in a field of tall grass on an outlanding. On a solo cross-country training flight the student reached his turning point at 1631 m, then worked the area for an hour and a half without climbing. Fixated on finding lift, he broke off far too late, leaving the valley at about 600 m — under 100 m above the ground — with no time to look the field over. He turned into wind very low and touched down in tall grass; the right wing struck the ground and the glider slewed round. He had been cleared into an area beyond his experience, with no outlanding training.

1. Solo cross-country training flight: The student launched by winch for a cross-country training flight, cleared to a turning point in an area that the club's own grading put beyond his experience.
2. An hour and a half without a climb: He reached the turning point at 1631 m, then worked the area for about an hour and a half without gaining height, drifting steadily lower.
3. Fixated on finding lift: Focused on the search for lift, he left the decision to break off very late and never considered a landable field the club had listed in the sector.
4. Out of the valley under 100 m: He left the valley at about 600 m, less than 100 m above the ground — too low to inspect a field or plan an approach.
5. Low turn into wind: He began a left turn at very low height to line up into wind and put the glider down in a field of tall grass.
6. Wing digs in, glider slews round: On touchdown the right wing struck the ground; the glider slewed round and came to rest, substantially damaged, the pilot unhurt.