20020720027489A

(-23) Mr. Mary was on his first solo flight of the day when he entered the traffic pattern a little high and close to the runway. He turned away from the runway and extended spoilers until on very short final. He established a very low final approach path, but one that would have yielded a normal touchdown. Approximately 200' from the approach end of runway 18, the tip of his left wing struck the very top of a 25' power pole. The glider yawed 60 degrees left and impacted the ground left wing low approximately 50 feet from the pole. It bounced once and came to rest in a field of weeds. The pilot was not hurt other than being very sore. The left wingtip was shredded and the left wing failed just inboard of the aileron--it was bent back like a swept wing. The nose impacted a small mound of gravel resulting in two big round dents. Approximately 1/2 way between trailing edge and tail, the fuselage was crumpled like a twisted aluminum can. Subsequent examination by glider club members disclosed that the g-meter read 9.5 and that six rivets in the seat pan had been popped. The club president stated that the aircraft was considered destroyed.