What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Crash landed short runway. (.4)the pilot reported that the glider developed an 'unusual' sink rate while on downwind to runway 18. He elected not to fly a base leg, but instead he turned directly toward the runway. He reported the sink rate increased and he was unable to clear trees in his flight path. The glider contacted trees and came to rest about 1,000 feet prior to the approach end of the runway. (-23) the aircraft (glider) received substantial damage, and the pilot and passenger received minor injuries when the gliders left wing impacted a tree while landing approximately 1/4 mile from the approach end of the runway of intended landing. The pilot stated that he experienced excessive sink and was unable to reach the runway.
As the FAA filed it
CRASH LANDED SHORT RUNWAY. (.4)THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE GLIDER DEVELOPED AN 'UNUSUAL' SINK RATE WHILE ON DOWNWIND TO RUNWAY 18. HE ELECTED NOT TO FLY A BASE LEG, BUT INSTEAD HE TURNED DIRECTLY TOWARD THE RUNWAY. HE REPORTED THE SINK RATE INCREASED AND HE WAS UNABLE TO CLEAR TREES IN HIS FLIGHT PATH. THE GLIDER CONTACTED TREES AND CAME TO REST ABOUT 1,000 FEET PRIOR TO THE APPROACH END OF THE RUNWAY. (-23) THE AIRCRAFT (GLIDER) RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE, AND THE PILOT AND PASSENGER RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES WHEN THE GLIDERS LEFT WING IMPACTED A TREE WHILE LANDING APPROXIMATELY 1/4 MILE FROM THE APPROACH END OF THE RUNWAY OF INTENDED LANDING. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE EXPERIENCED EXCESSIVE SINK AND WAS UNABLE TO REACH THE RUNWAY.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.