SGS 2-33 outlands in a corn field after losing the runway in sun glare

The pilot of an SGS 2-33 was unhurt, but the glider substantially damaged, when he could not find his grass runway against the setting sun and put the glider into a corn field near Waynesville. It was his first solo in gliders, flown that evening after two instructional flights; he had about 27 hours on gliders behind a power licence. He released at about 610 m some three kilometres out and knew roughly where the airfield lay, but searched for it down to about 335 m before committing to the field. The fuselage and right wing took the damage.

1. First glider solo, evening flight: A power pilot converting to gliders was signed off for his first glider solo after two instructional flights the same afternoon, with about 27 hours on gliders.
2. Runway lost against the low sun: After releasing at about 610 m some three kilometres from the gliderport, the pilot could not pick out the turf runway against the glare of the setting sun.
3. Searches down to 335 m: He knew roughly where the airfield lay but descended to about 335 m still without sighting it.
4. Commits to a corn field: With the runway still not in sight, he selected a corn field and committed to an off-airfield landing.
5. Fuselage and right wing damaged: The glider was substantially damaged in the landing, to the fuselage and the right wing. The pilot was unhurt.