L-13A Blaník catches a wing in tall wheat on a cross-sloping outlanding field

In a cross-country outlanding near Česká, both occupants of an L-13A Blaník were unhurt, but the glider was substantially damaged when its left wing caught tall wheat on a cross-sloping field. Abeam the Bořitov strip at 1,200 m MSL, near final-glide height by his judgement, the pilot flew on towards cumulus near Kuřim, leaving glide range of the destination over country with few suitable fields. Under the cumulus he gained only about 20 m in seven minutes, then landed in the field he had picked, the others being rapeseed. The glider swung round about 160°.

1. Out-and-return cross-country: The pilot and a passenger were aerotowed from Medlánky for an out-and-return of about 100 km to Moravská Třebová. Unable to climb near the turnpoint, he landed there at 15:53.
2. Second aerotow, climb to 2,200 m: Local pilots offered a tow. He released about 5 km S of Moravská Třebová at 16:30, climbed to 2,200 m MSL and continued along the route; by his account, conditions were weaker than they had looked.
3. Flew on past Bořitov at 1,200 m: Abeam the Bořitov microlight strip, about 20 km N of Medlánky, at 17:15 and 1,200 m MSL, he chose not to land, citing near final-glide height, a light tailwind and cumulus near Kuřim.
4. Weak climb at 650 m MSL: Reaching the Kuřim area at about 650 m MSL, he began circling in a weak climb and picked a field for a possible outlanding. In seven minutes the glider gained about 20 m.
5. Landing in the wheat field: To stay near the cereal field he had picked (the others nearby were rapeseed), he flew the last two turns from about 250 m AGL and landed into wind on 330° MAG, airbrakes closed.
6. Field sloping across the run: The field turned out to slope markedly from left to right across the landing direction; the wheat on it stood about 60 cm tall. He had aimed to touch down on the ear tops.
7. Wing catches wheat; both unhurt: The left wing caught the wheat and the glider swung left about 160° and stopped; the pilot pushed the nose down to keep the tail above the crop. The centre section was damaged.