What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Pilot in command practicing cross country glider techniques took off from Warren-Sugarbush airport. Flew 40 miles to north, then 20 miles to the southeast and finally 25 miles to the southwest. The lift was both thermal and ridge lift with glider experiencing an average max height of 2,800 feet above the ground. At about 1700 hours EDT as the pilots were returning to the airport, the wind "went southwest at 5 knots" decreasing the available lift. Approximately 4 miles from the airport, it became apparent that they would not make it to the airport and they chose a field to land in. While on approach to the field, the pilots increased the pitch of the glider to clear a tree, and the glider stalled and "mushed" to the ground.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) PILOT IN COMMAND PRACTICING CROSS COUNTRY GLIDER TECHNIQUES TOOK OFF FROM WARREN-SUGARBUSH AIRPORT. FLEW 40 MILES TO NORTH, THEN 20 MILES TO THE SOUTHEAST AND FINALLY 25 MILES TO THE SOUTHWEST. THE LIFT WAS BOTH THERMAL AND RIDGE LIFT WITH GLIDER EXPERIENCING AN AVERAGE MAX HEIGHT OF 2,800 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND. AT ABOUT 1700 HOURS EDT AS THE PILOTS WERE RETURNING TO THE AIRPORT, THE WIND "WENT SOUTHWEST AT 5 KNOTS" DECREASING THE AVAILABLE LIFT. APPROXIMATELY 4 MILES FROM THE AIRPORT, IT BECAME APPARENT THAT THEY WOULD NOT MAKE IT TO THE AIRPORT AND THEY CHOSE A FIELD TO LAND IN. WHILE ON APPROACH TO THE FIELD, THE PILOTS INCREASED THE PITCH OF THE GLIDER TO CLEAR A TREE, AND THE GLIDER STALLED AND "MUSHED" TO THE GROUND.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.