What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(.19) On April 11, 2002, at 1500 eastern daylight time, a wsk pzl PW-5 glider, N908BT, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near new smithville, Pennsylvania. The certificated private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR part 91. In a telephone interview, the pilot stated that he departed the blairstown airport (1N7), blairstown, new jersey around 1300. He intended to perform an "out-and-back" cross-country flight from blairstown to kutztown, Pennsylvania, and then return to blairstown. The pilot reported that during the return trip to blairstown, the lift began to dissipate, and he decided to 'land out' in a field below him. He performed a traffic pattern entry to the field, and prepared for a forced landing to the east. While on the base leg, the airplane struck the top of a row of 20-foot tall 'hedge trees' at the edge of the field. The airplane came to rest suspended in one of the trees. The pilot stated that he obtained weather information from the internet prior to his flight, which reported winds from 130 degrees, at 14 knots. A federal aviation administration (FAA) inspector performed an on-scene examination of the airplane. According to the inspector, the tail of the glider was separated and substantial damage was observed to both wings. A flight control continuity check revealed no mechanical deficiencies with the glider. The winds reported at the lehigh valley international airport (abe), allentown, Pennsylvania, at 1451, were from 120 degrees at 9 knots. (-23) glider pilot enroute from blairstown, NJ, to kutztown, PA, and return on a cross-country flight. Lost lift and attempted to land in a farmer's field. Aircraft struck trees on base to final turn. Aircraft sustained substantial damage. No injuries to pilot.
As the FAA filed it
(.19) ON APRIL 11, 2002, AT 1500 EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME, A WSK PZL PW-5 GLIDER, N908BT, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED DURING A FORCED LANDING NEAR NEW SMITHVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA. THE CERTIFICATED PRIVATE PILOT WAS NOT INJURED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED FOR THE PERSONAL FLIGHT CONDUCTED UNDER 14 CFR PART 91. IN A TELEPHONE INTERVIEW, THE PILOT STATED THAT HE DEPARTED THE BLAIRSTOWN AIRPORT (1N7), BLAIRSTOWN, NEW JERSEY AROUND 1300. HE INTENDED TO PERFORM AN "OUT-AND-BACK" CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT FROM BLAIRSTOWN TO KUTZTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA, AND THEN RETURN TO BLAIRSTOWN. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING THE RETURN TRIP TO BLAIRSTOWN, THE LIFT BEGAN TO DISSIPATE, AND HE DECIDED TO 'LAND OUT' IN A FIELD BELOW HIM. HE PERFORMED A TRAFFIC PATTERN ENTRY TO THE FIELD, AND PREPARED FOR A FORCED LANDING TO THE EAST. WHILE ON THE BASE LEG, THE AIRPLANE STRUCK THE TOP OF A ROW OF 20-FOOT TALL 'HEDGE TREES' AT THE EDGE OF THE FIELD. THE AIRPLANE CAME TO REST SUSPENDED IN ONE OF THE TREES. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE OBTAINED WEATHER INFORMATION FROM THE INTERNET PRIOR TO HIS FLIGHT, WHICH REPORTED WINDS FROM 130 DEGREES, AT 14 KNOTS. A FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION (FAA) INSPECTOR PERFORMED AN ON-SCENE EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE. ACCORDING TO THE INSPECTOR, THE TAIL OF THE GLIDER WAS SEPARATED AND SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WAS OBSERVED TO BOTH WINGS. A FLIGHT CONTROL CONTINUITY CHECK REVEALED NO MECHANICAL DEFICIENCIES WITH THE GLIDER. THE WINDS REPORTED AT THE LEHIGH VALLEY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (ABE), ALLENTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA, AT 1451, WERE FROM 120 DEGREES AT 9 KNOTS. (-23) GLIDER PILOT ENROUTE FROM BLAIRSTOWN, NJ, TO KUTZTOWN, PA, AND RETURN ON A CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT. LOST LIFT AND ATTEMPTED TO LAND IN A FARMER'S FIELD. AIRCRAFT STRUCK TREES ON BASE TO FINAL TURN. AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. NO INJURIES TO PILOT.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.