What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Pilot was gliding over Blue Mountain ridge. He lost lift and decided to put the glider down into a field below. As he approached for landing, at the last second the sun shone on a cable that was approximately 12 feet high that went across the landing area of the field. He tried to fly over top of the cable but came down on an area of trees while trying to miss the cable.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) PILOT WAS GLIDING OVER BLUE MOUNTAIN RIDGE. HE LOST LIFT AND DECIDED TO PUT THE GLIDER DOWN INTO A FIELD BELOW. AS HE APPROACHED FOR LANDING, AT THE LAST SECOND THE SUN SHONE ON A CABLE THAT WAS APPROXIMATELY 12 FEET HIGH THAT WENT ACROSS THE LANDING AREA OF THE FIELD. HE TRIED TO FLY OVER TOP OF THE CABLE BUT CAME DOWN ON AN AREA OF TREES WHILE TRYING TO MISS THE CABLE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.