What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Student glider pilot was flying solo while being observed by his qualified and current CFI, not in communication, on the ground. The pilot had entered the airport pattern and elected to extend his downwind and base legs to lose altitude. Additionally, he had deployed his spoilers to assist in the loss of altitude. This combination of pilot actions had resulted in an excess loss of altitude prior to turning final approach to the runway. During his turn to final, the aircraft impacted with the tree line approximately 1500 ft. from the approach end of runway 26; the intended runway for landing. The aircraft came to rest in the trees, slightly right of the extended, runway centerline, approximately 25 ft. above ground, in a nose-up attitude. All spoiler panels (4), upper and lower, were in the fully extended position. Substantial damage was obvious to both wing's leading edges.
As the FAA filed it
STUDENT GLIDER PILOT WAS FLYING SOLO WHILE BEING OBSERVED BY HIS QUALIFIED AND CURRENT CFI, NOT IN COMMUNICATION, ON THE GROUND.THE PILOT HAD ENTERED THE AIRPORT PATTERN AND ELECTED TO EXTEND HIS DOWNWIND AND BASE LEGS TO LOSE ALTITUDE. ADDITIONALLY, HE HAD DEPLOYED HIS SPOILERS TO ASSIST IN THE LOSS OF ALTITUDE. THIS COMBINATION OF PILOT ACTIONS HAD RESULTED IN AN EXCESS LOSS OF ALTITUDE PRIOR TO TURNING FINAL APPROACH TO THE RUNWAY. DURING HIS TURN TO FINAL, THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED WITH THE TREE LINE APPROXIMATELY 1500 FT. FROM THE APPROACH END OF RUNWAY 26; THE INTENDED RUNWAY FOR LANDING. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN THE TREES, SLIGHTLY RIGHT OF THE EXTENDED, RUNWAY CENTERLINE, APPROXIMATELY 25 FT. ABOVE GROUND, IN A NOSE-UP ATTITUDE. ALL SPOILER PANELS (4), UPPER AND LOWER, WERE IN THE FULLY EXTENDED POSITION. SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WAS OBVIOUS TO BOTH WING'S LEADING EDGES.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.