What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On the initial climb-out at 300 feet AGL, the instructor initiated a training rope break exercise. The student initiated a turn back toward the airport, however, the turn was not sufficient and the instructor asked the student to tighten the turn.
Instead, the student pressed on the rudder pedal hard enough to couple with the aeileron and induce a spin.
The instructor recovered the aircraft from the spin at approx. 75 feet AGL. In order to miss hitting power lines, the instructor dove the glider under the power lines.
At this low altitude, the landing options were minimal. The instructor piloted the glider between two trees. Both wings struck trees on the landing roll.
The aircraft was substantially damaged. The instructor pilot and student were unharmed.
As the FAA filed it
ON THE INITIAL CLIMB-OUT AT 300 FEET AGL, THE INSTRUCTOR INITIATED A TRAINING ROPE BREAK EXERCISE. THE STUDENT INITIATED A TURN BACK TOWARD THE AIRPORT, HOWEVER, THE TURN WAS NOT SUFFICIENT AND THE INSTRUCTOR ASKED THE STUDENT TO TIGHTEN THE TURN.
INSTEAD, THE STUDENT PRESSED ON THE RUDDER PEDAL HARD ENOUGH TO COUPLE WITH THE AEILERON AND INDUCE A SPIN.
THE INSTRUCTOR RECOVERED THE AIRCRAFT FROM THE SPIN AT APPROX. 75 FEET AGL. IN ORDER TO MISS HITTING POWER LINES, THE INSTRUCTOR DOVE THE GLIDER UNDER THE POWER LINES.
AT THIS LOW ALTITUDE, THE LANDING OPTIONS WERE MINIMAL. THE INSTRUCTOR PILOTED THE GLIDER BETWEEN TWO TREES. BOTH WINGS STRUCK TREES ON THE LANDING ROLL.
THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT AND STUDENT WERE UNHARMED.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.