ASK 13 catches a wing on touchdown after a low 180° turn in an outlanding

On a local thermal flight from Havlíčkův Brod, an ASK 13 pilot decided late to land out; he was unhurt, but the glider was substantially damaged when a wing caught the ground. After climbing to 1,300 m MSL while drifting back towards the airfield on the wind, he flew off again and found no sustained climb. At about 500 m AGL, 8 km out, he still headed for the airfield, and picked a mown field only at about 150 m AGL. At about 40 m AGL, seeing it slope gently down ahead and a 110 kV line across it, he turned about 180° to land uphill. On touchdown the glider swung sharply left and slid sideways about 10 m.

1. Aerotow for a local thermal flight: The pilot was aerotowed from RWY 11 at Havlíčkův Brod for a local thermal flight and released at 1,100 m MSL about 9 km south-east of the airfield.
2. Climb and drift back: He climbed in turbulent thermals to 1,300 m MSL while the south-easterly wind carried him almost back to the airfield.
3. Flew away from the airfield again: He flew away from the airfield again but found no sustained climb, and was 8 km from it at about 500 m AGL, still heading back towards it.
4. Field chosen at about 150 m AGL: He chose a mown field near Termesivy only at about 150 m AGL, flew a 360° turn at its western edge at about 100 m AGL and approached into wind without an inspection turn.
5. 180° turn at about 40 m AGL: At about 40 m AGL over the field he saw that it sloped gently down ahead and was crossed by a 110 kV line, and turned about 180° to land uphill.
6. Wing caught; pilot unhurt: The glider touched down as its left wing caught the ground, swung sharply left and slid sideways about 10 m; the rear fuselage frame was damaged and the tailplane mount torn off.