| Crash location | 32.837222°N, 105.987777°W |
| Nearest city | Alamogordo, NM
32.899532°N, 105.960265°W 4.6 miles away |
| Tail number | N223WP |
|---|---|
| Accident date | 09 Feb 2008 |
| Aircraft type | Burkhart Grob G-103A TWIN II ACRO |
| Additional details: | None |
According to the pilot's statement, the glider was being towed aloft when it encountered turbulence at approximately 200 feet above ground level. The glider gained altitude such that the pilot lost sight of the tow plane. The pilot decided to release the glider and attempt a right turn back to the airport to land. The pilot stated, "The altitude was too low to complete the turn, so I leveled the wings and landed the glider off-field." Upon landing, the left wing contacted terrain and the glider ground looped. Examination of the glider revealed the rear fuselage was broken in front of the vertical stabilizer, the nose gear sheared off, and the horizontal stabilizer was bent at the connection to the vertical stabilizer. The pilot and single passenger were not injured.
The unsuitable terrain for landing. Contributing to the accident were the pilot's encounter with turbulence and the loss of visual contact with the tow plane.