What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Pilot departed Bahnson (43NC) at 1400 EDT, after approximately 1HR. 25 min. Of soaring, pilot attempted to return to 43NC. Pilot stated he encountered a very significant area of sink, he realized that a return to 43NC was approaching the limit of the glider capability. He then stated that the best decision appeared to pick something easily reachable, he selected a freshly cut hay field, there were no observed wires in the area. Pilot set up for a right pattern to land west into the wind, the pattern was normal and at the proper speed. During the turn to final the gliders right wing struck the top of a tall tree, glider pulled to the right and entered other trees at the edge of the woods and the open field. Glider received substantial damage, pilot received minor injuries including minor bruising to his left upper arm and left thigh.
As the FAA filed it
PILOT DEPARTED BAHNSON (43NC) AT 1400 EDT, AFTER APPROXIMATELY 1HR. 25 MIN. OF SOARING, PILOT ATTEMPTED TO RETURN TO 43NC. PILOT STATED HE ENCOUNTERED A VERY SIGNIFICANT AREA OF SINK, HE REALIZED THAT A RETURN TO 43NC WAS APPROACHING THE LIMIT OF THE GLIDER CAPABILITY. HE THEN STATED THAT THE BEST DECISION APPEARED TO PICK SOMETHING EASILY REACHABLE, HE SELECTED A FRESHLY CUT HAY FIELD, THERE WERE NO OBSERVED WIRES IN THE AREA. PILOT SET UP FOR A RIGHT PATTERN TO LAND WEST INTO THE WIND, THE PATTERN WAS NORMAL AND AT THE PROPER SPEED. DURING THE TURN TO FINAL THE GLIDERS RIGHT WING STRUCK THE TOP OF A TALL TREE, GLIDER PULLED TO THE RIGHT AND ENTERED OTHER TREES AT THE EDGE OF THE WOODS AND THE OPEN FIELD. GLIDER RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE, PILOT RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES INCLUDING MINOR BRUISING TO HIS LEFT UPPER ARM AND LEFT THIGH.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.