20030615011669A

(-23) On June 15, 2003, at approximately 1500 pacific daylight time, a schleicher ASW-20 glider, N34LB, collided with tree tops in mountainious terrain about 3.3 miles east of Idyllwild, California. The glider, which was destroyed, was registered to the pilot. The pilot who holds a private pilots certificate received minor injuries. The personal flight operating under 14 CFR part 91 of the federal aviation regulations originated at hemet ryan airport, hemet California at approximately 1230 and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The glider and the tow aircraft departed hemet ryan airport and the tow aircraft released the glider at approximately 3000 feet AGL. The glider destination was the mount san jacinto area where his goal was to try and catch as many thermal updrafts as would be necessary to reach the top of the mountain range. The pilot stated that he traveled back and forth between different ridgelines and specific locations where updrafts are known to be located. He stated that he had worked his way up to approximately 6100 foot MSL but was not having much success at finding a good enough updraft to get him up above the 7000 foot MSL. He stated that while in the fuller mill creek area at around 6000 foot MSL, while trying to catch a thermal updraft, he ran into what he described as rather strong gusty winds. He noticed that his airspeed had dropped to 40 knots, which was below the minimum of 55 to 60 knots that he said he tries to maintain. At this moment he changed his flap position and lowered the nose in an attempt to quickly gain back the airspeed he had lost. He stated he mistakenly thought the ridgeline he was following dropped off when in fact it continued to rise. He said just moments after lowering the nose he noticed a dead treetop directly in his path. He said he attempted to avoid the treetop by banking left wing tip down but during this maneuver he said one of his wings contacted something. Moments after initial contact the glider impacted the terrain in an inverted position. He stated that he has no recollection of what transpired immediately after the initial contact. Both wings had been broken off at the fuselage by tree trunks and the glider came to rest upside down with the cockpit canopy partially open. The fuselage and tail section though badly damaged were still in one piece. The pilot stated that due to the ruggedness ofthe mountainous terrain it took him many hours to find a safe way out.