N3872G

On June 11, 2005, about 1240 eastern daylight time, a Burkhart Grob G103 Twin Astir glider, N3872G, was substantially damaged while landing at Reader-Botsford Airport (67D), Wellington, Ohio. The certificated private pilot sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

The pilot reported that he was towed from 67D to 3,000 feet msl. The glider released from the tow-plane and soared uneventfully over the local area. At 1,700 feet, the pilot entered a left downwind leg runway 36; a 2,850-foot-long, 100-foot-wide, turf runway. The glider was too low on the downwind leg, and the pilot flew a tighter traffic pattern to correct for the low altitude. As the glider turned onto a left base leg, it encountered a downdraft and possible headwind. The glider remained too low and struck trees on the final approach to the runway. The glider came to rest in a field, and the wings sustained substantial damage.

The pilot reported the wind from the southwest, at 10 knots, gusting to 15 knots. The reported wind at an airport approximately 10 miles north of the accident site, at 1253, was from 230 degrees at 7 knots.