19980923034519A

On September 23, 1998, approximatel 1530 central daylight time, an amateur-built experimental nicks PW-5 glider, N110WN, was substantially damaged shen it collided with terrain during landing near Waller, Texas. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant and the owner/builder of the glider, was fatally injured. No flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the title 14 CFR part 91 personal cross country flight that departed coulter field airport in bryan, Texas, with an intendd destination of Waller, TX. According to local authorities, the pilot radioed to the driver of his chase vehicle that due to a lack of thermal lift, he was going to have to land short of his intended destination. A witness, who was seated on his front porch, reported that he observed the glider coming from the northeast towards his house, at an altitude of 30 to 35 feet AGL. He further reported that the glider made a sharp left turn toward the southeast, probably to avoid the house, and its left wingtip hit the ground. The nose of the glider then impacted the ground, and the glider slid 15 to 20 feet and came to a stop in the upright position. During the impact sequence, the left wing and the canopy separated from the fuselage.(.4) the amateur-built experimental glider collided with terrain during the final approach to landing in a pasture. During the cross-country flight, the pilot/builder had radioed to the driver of his ground chase vehicle that he was too low to continue towards his intended destination. The pilot further radioed that he had selected a pasture and was `landing out.' A witness, who was seated on the front porch of his house, observed the glider coming towards him. The glider made a `sharp' left turn away from the house, the left wing tip struck the ground, and the left wing separated. The nose of the glider then impacted the ground `hard at a fairly steep angle,' and the glider slid to a stop. The pilot had a total flight time in gliders of 1,661 hours, of which 15 hours were in the accident glider. (-23) on September 23, 1998 approximately 1530 central daylight time an amateur-built experimental oran nicks PW-5 glider, N110WN was demolished when it collided with terrain during landing near Waller Texas. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant and owner/builder of the glider was fatally injured . No flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the title 14 CFR part 91 personal cross country flight that departed coulter field airport in bryan, Texas with an intended destination of the soaring club of houston. The pilot radioed to the driver of his chase vehicle that due to lack of thermal lift, he was going to have to land short of his intended destination. A witness who was seated on his front porch, repoorted that he observed the glider coming from the northeast towards his house, at an altitude of 30 to 35 feet AGL. He further reported that the glider made a sharp left turn toward the southeast, probably to avoid the house, and it's left wingtip hit the ground. The nose then struck the ground fatally injuring the pilot.