What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On 08/05/2009 at approximately 1500 MST, N77MA (a eiriavon oy pik 20B glider) made an off-airport landing when unable to locate sufficint thermal lift activity to enable the glider to return to el Tiro glideport near marana, AZ while returning from a cross-country flight. The aircraft's wing struck a tree at approximately 12 feet above the ground causing the nose to strike the ground and the wings to separate from the fuselage. The aircraft sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported he received no injuries.
As the FAA filed it
ON 08/05/2009 AT APPROXIMATELY 1500 MST, N77MA (A EIRIAVON OY PIK 20B GLIDER) MADE AN OFF-AIRPORT LANDING WHEN UNABLE TO LOCATE SUFFICINT THERMAL LIFT ACTIVITY TO ENABLE THE GLIDER TO RETURN TO EL TIRO GLIDEPORT NEAR MARANA, AZ WHILE RETURNING FROM A CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT. THE AIRCRAFT'S WING STRUCK A TREE AT APPROXIMATELY 12 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND CAUSING THE NOSE TO STRIKE THE GROUND AND THE WINGS TO SEPARATE FROM THE FUSELAGE. THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE PILOT REPORTED HE RECEIVED NO INJURIES.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.