What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Glider did not have enough altitude to return to airport. Landed in brush 200 ft n of runway. (.4) the glider was being launched by a vehicle ground tow. About 250 feet AGL, the tow row broke at the 'weak link.' The pilot reported that he might have been too aggressive during the rotation. He stated that he felt he was too FAR down the runway to land straight ahead, so he turned left intending to fly an abbreviated pattern. He stated that he lost altitude more rapidly than he had anticipated and could not complete the turn back to the runway. During the turn the glider descended and the left wing tip dragged through the vegetation. According to the pilot, the glider landed hard while skidding left and the main landing gear was sheared off.
As the FAA filed it
GLIDER DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH ALTITUDE TO RETURN TO AIRPORT. LANDED IN BRUSH 200 FT N OF RUNWAY. (.4) THE GLIDER WAS BEING LAUNCHED BY A VEHICLE GROUND TOW. ABOUT 250 FEET AGL, THE TOW ROW BROKE AT THE 'WEAK LINK.' THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE MIGHT HAVE BEEN TOO AGGRESSIVE DURING THE ROTATION. HE STATED THAT HE FELT HE WAS TOO FAR DOWN THE RUNWAY TO LAND STRAIGHT AHEAD, SO HE TURNED LEFT INTENDING TO FLY AN ABBREVIATED PATTERN. HE STATED THAT HE LOST ALTITUDE MORE RAPIDLY THAN HE HAD ANTICIPATED AND COULD NOT COMPLETE THE TURN BACK TO THE RUNWAY. DURING THE TURN THE GLIDER DESCENDED AND THE LEFT WING TIP DRAGGED THROUGH THE VEGETATION. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, THE GLIDER LANDED HARD WHILE SKIDDING LEFT AND THE MAIN LANDING GEAR WAS SHEARED OFF.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.