What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(.4) The pilot reported that the glider was towed to 500 feet AGL, and released. He said that when he started his turn, the left wing dropped, and the glider entered a spin to the left. He applied opposite rudder, and the glider recovered after two turns. He said shortly thereafter he became disoriented, and does not remember anything else. A witness said that the glider entered another spin, about 100 feet AGL, and struck the ground at the approach end of runway 01. The pilot reported over 10 hours in gliders including 1 hour in make and model. He reported that there was no mechanical malfunction with the glider. According to the FAA, the glider was being flight tested, and had flown six times on the day of the accident. There was no record that the glider's pitot static system was calibrated, as recommended in advisory circular AC-90-89.
As the FAA filed it
(.4) THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE GLIDER WAS TOWED TO 500 FEET AGL, AND RELEASED. HE SAID THAT WHEN HE STARTED HIS TURN, THE LEFT WING DROPPED, AND THE GLIDER ENTERED A SPIN TO THE LEFT. HE APPLIED OPPOSITE RUDDER, AND THE GLIDER RECOVERED AFTER TWO TURNS. HE SAID SHORTLY THEREAFTER HE BECAME DISORIENTED, AND DOES NOT REMEMBER ANYTHING ELSE. A WITNESS SAID THAT THE GLIDER ENTERED ANOTHER SPIN, ABOUT 100 FEET AGL, AND STRUCK THE GROUND AT THE APPROACH END OF RUNWAY 01. THE PILOT REPORTED OVER 10 HOURS IN GLIDERS INCLUDING 1 HOUR IN MAKE AND MODEL. HE REPORTED THAT THERE WAS NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION WITH THE GLIDER. ACCORDING TO THE FAA, THE GLIDER WAS BEING FLIGHT TESTED, AND HAD FLOWN SIX TIMES ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT. THERE WAS NO RECORD THAT THE GLIDER'S PITOT STATIC SYSTEM WAS CALIBRATED, AS RECOMMENDED IN ADVISORY CIRCULAR AC-90-89.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.