Super Blanik catches a wing in tall maize on landing out after circling low for lift

On a two-seater competition task, the pilot of a Super Blanik circled for lift over Brzice instead of landing; both on board were unhurt, but the left wing caught tall maize at touchdown and was bent. Down to about 300 m AGL some 12 km from Dvůr Králové, the pilot picked a field that looked like grass or low maize, then began circling at about 130 m AGL over the village. Three circles took the glider to about 80 m AGL; from about 30 m the field west of the maize was probably out of reach. The crop was low at its edge but about 1.2 m tall where the glider touched down, and the glider swung round about 120°.

1. Two-seater competition task: The pilot and a second person on board were aerotowed from Dvůr Králové at 13:25 for a 197 km task of a two-seater championship via Lomnice, Dobruška, Hostinné and Velké Poříčí.
2. Final leg home: After a climb to about 870 m AGL at 17:43 on the 27 km leg home, the pilot found no further lift and was down to about 300 m AGL some 12 km from the airfield.
3. Field picked near Brzice: Unable to reach the airfield, the pilot picked a field near Brzice that looked like grass or low maize, and arrived over the village below 200 m AGL.
4. Circling for lift at 130 m AGL: Instead of landing on another field in the area, the pilot circled left at about 130 m AGL over the north edge of the village; by the pilot's account, in weak lift.
5. Three circles down to 80 m AGL: The second left circle ended at about 120 m AGL, a right circle at about 80 m AGL. A 180° left turn lined the glider up on the maize at about 30 m AGL; the field west of it was probably out of reach.
6. Maize taller mid-field: The maize was low at the field edge but about 1.2 m tall where the glider touched down; the pilot noticed this only in the flare. The wing probably touched the maize at about 84 km/h.
7. Wing caught; both unhurt: The left wing caught the maize and the glider swung round about 120° and stopped. The left wing was bent about 2 m in from the aileron's outer end, and its tip fairing cracked.