VSO 10 Gradient ground-loops as a wing catches rapeseed short of the runway

Returning from a local flight at Benešov, the pilot of a VSO 10 Gradient was unhurt and the glider substantially damaged when its left wing caught tall rapeseed short of RWY 27 and it ground-looped. On final the glider met strong sink and lost the height for a safe approach. By his account the pilot still expected to reach the runway and began levelling off over the crop. The wing caught the rapeseed about 30 m before the threshold; the glider struck the ground with wingtip and nose, ground-looped and spun about 270° on its main wheel. The cause was given as an unsuitably planned approach, affected by the strong sink after the final turn.

1. Local thermal flight: The pilot was aerotowed from Benešov for a local thermal flight and returned to land on RWY 27 from a left-hand circuit.
2. Strong sink on final: On final after the fourth turn, the glider met strong sink and lost the height needed for a safe approach to RWY 27.
3. Approach continued over the crop: By the pilot's account he still expected to reach the runway, kept the airbrakes closed and began levelling off over the tall rapeseed short of the airfield.
4. Left wing catches rapeseed: About 30 m before the threshold markers the left wing caught the rapeseed; the glider was pulled down, its left wingtip struck the ground and it began to rotate left.
5. Ground loop onto the runway: The nose struck the ground and the glider ground-looped over the right wingtip, then dropped onto its main wheel, spun about 270° and stopped about 40 m past the threshold.