Sad news

On August 4, 2005, about 1515 mountain daylight time, a Burkhart Grob
G103 Twin Astir glider, N153SS, registered to and operated by the pilot
as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, collided with the terrain at the
northeast end of the Reed Memorial Airport, Driggs, Idaho. Visual
meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was
filed for the local flight. The glider was substantially damaged and
the private pilot, the sole occupant, was fatally injured.

The glider's tow plane pilot reported that during the pre-tow briefing,
the glider pilot stated that he wanted to do three pattern tows and one
high tow. The pilot then pulled the glider around to position for the
takeoff tow. The tow plane pilot stated that shortly after 1500, he
started the takeoff without any problems. The pilot flew a circling
turn to the right and went to mid-field and made another right turn
crossing the runway, and climbing to 1,200 feet above ground level
(agl) for the release. The tow pilot then circled to land on runway 21.
The tow pilot stated that as he was taxiing back he noticed the glider,
no higher than 75 feet agl, pitch nose down. The tow pilot stated that
the glider was too low and just before it hit the ground, it looked
like the nose was starting to come up. The glider collided with the
ground in about a 45 degree nose down attitude.