Fatal crash Arizona

We have a
rule here in the UK, launch failure on aerotow below 300ft a landing should
be made ahead, or slightly to one side. No attempt should be made to turn
back below this height.

As a UK FI(S) and FIC, previously a Full Cat instructor, this is news to me. Where is it expressed?

I thought the rule was to exercise judgement. I always address 'where would you go now' issues with students and on check flights. In most conditions and situations I would turn back from lower than 300 foot.

On Tuesday, May 6, 2014 4:41:23 PM UTC-4, Don Johnstone wrote:
While in no way do I wish to speculate on the cause of this accident or

indeed suggest that my comments in any way address the cause of this

accident.

I feel that comment is needed on some of the things said here. We have a

rule here in the UK, launch failure on aerotow below 300ft a landing should

be made ahead, or slightly to one side. No attempt should be made to turn

back below this height.

The reason is simple, a controlled crash into difficult terrain is likely

to result in a better outcome than an uncontrolled arrival on the airfield.

The important bit to keep intact is the bit you are sitting in, the rest of

the glider does not really matter too much. The best chance of achieving

that is flying to the ground with the wings level. It has only happened to

me once, there was a field ahead but it was full of the Tiger Moth tug that

had landed in the middle. I discovered that there was just enough space for

a Skylark 2 as well. I have no doubt that a turn back would have resulted

in an accident. I was at 250ft agl max.

If there really is nowhere to land ahead you should really ask the

question, "should I be taking a launch".

Frankly I would be horrified to be required to conduct a turn back at

200ft, I would suggest that this is one of those occasions where the danger

of practice is to great to justify.

Sometimes it's hard to face the fact that the glider must be destroyed to survive. Trying to save the device could be a deadly decision.

Again, I don't know what actually happened, best guess, inadvertent unintentional release. Whether he tried to turn back, or just plain didn't get the nose down quick enough during a 90 degree or lesser turn, who knows.

The only way to practice rope breaks at 100' is on a simulator (condor).

Don's suggestion that there is a rigid rule about turn back heights in the UK is a surprise to me (I am an instructor). Select the least bad option at the time. Prepare students for it by (at an earlier stage) saying 'from here I would..'. Later asking 'if the tow fails here, where would you go?'

In most circumstances from 200 foot I would turn back.