What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On 5 March 2005, an experimental glider crashed short of the seminol lake glider port near clermont, FL. Pilot was returning from a cross-country flight when he encountered several other gliders in the traffic pattern. Pilot attempted to sequence himself for landing, however misjudged the speed and altitude required to land successfully. Pilot entered base turn from downwind leg of traffic pattern for runway 18 and stalled the aircraft. Aircraft impacted trees in a near vertical attitude and came to rest one half mile short of runway. Pilot exited aircraft without injury. Aircraft sustained substantial damage.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON 5 MARCH 2005, AN EXPERIMENTAL GLIDER CRASHED SHORT OF THE SEMINOL LAKE GLIDER PORT NEAR CLERMONT, FL. PILOT WAS RETURNING FROM A CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT WHEN HE ENCOUNTERED SEVERAL OTHER GLIDERS IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN. PILOT ATTEMPTED TO SEQUENCE HIMSELF FOR LANDING, HOWEVER MISJUDGED THE SPEED AND ALTITUDE REQUIRED TO LAND SUCCESSFULLY. PILOT ENTERED BASE TURN FROM DOWNWIND LEG OF TRAFFIC PATTERN FOR RUNWAY 18 AND STALLED THE AIRCRAFT. AIRCRAFT IMPACTED TREES IN A NEAR VERTICAL ATTITUDE AND CAME TO REST ONE HALF MILE SHORT OF RUNWAY. PILOT EXITED AIRCRAFT WITHOUT INJURY. AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.