What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Aircraft was towed and released at approximately 2000 feet and then proceeded to fly 6 to 7 miles from the departing airport. The aircraft encountered several areas of sink along its flight path, but little to no uplift could be found. The pilot manuvered the aircraft back to the departing airport but was still not able to find any additional lift. A decision was made to land in a field, based on the lost altitude. While manuvering to land the aircraft, another sink area was encountered while turning on final and the pilot made the decision to land immediately to avoid stalling the aircraft in a turn.
As the FAA filed it
AIRCRAFT WAS TOWED AND RELEASED AT APPROXIMATELY 2000 FEET AND THEN PROCEEDED TO FLY 6 TO 7 MILES FROM THE DEPARTING AIRPORT. THE AIRCRAFT ENCOUNTERED SEVERAL AREAS OF SINK ALONG ITS FLIGHT PATH, BUT LITTLE TO NO UPLIFT COULD BE FOUND. THE PILOT MANUVERED THE AIRCRAFT BACK TO THE DEPARTING AIRPORT BUT WAS STILL NOT ABLE TO FIND ANY ADDITIONAL LIFT. A DECISION WAS MADE TO LAND IN A FIELD, BASED ON THE LOST ALTITUDE. WHILE MANUVERING TO LAND THE AIRCRAFT, ANOTHER SINK AREA WAS ENCOUNTERED WHILE TURNING ON FINAL AND THE PILOT MADE THE DECISION TO LAND IMMEDIATELY TO AVOID STALLING THE AIRCRAFT IN A TURN.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.