What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On 6/24/2018 at 1630 MDT, N963CG sailplane crash landed in a hayfield near parowin, UT (1L9). Pilot reported a loss of lift and thermal activity while maneuvering. Pilot stated the thermal lift was not particularly strong and the sustainer engine although certified to 10 thousand feet was known for reliability issues at higher density altitudes and restart was unsuccessful. At 8500 feet still in sinking air, the pilot committed to selecting a field for landing. The right elevator/horizontal stablilizer sustained substantial damage during the landing roll and subsequent ground loop.
As the FAA filed it
ON 6/24/2018 AT 1630 MDT, N963CG SAILPLANE CRASH LANDED IN A HAYFIELD NEAR PAROWIN, UT (1L9). PILOT REPORTED A LOSS OF LIFT AND THERMAL ACTIVITY WHILE MANEUVERING. PILOT STATED THE THERMAL LIFT WAS NOT PARTICULARLY STRONG AND THE SUSTAINER ENGINE ALTHOUGH CERTIFIED TO 10 THOUSAND FEET WAS KNOWN FOR RELIABILITY ISSUES AT HIGHER DENSITY ALTITUDES AND RESTART WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. AT 8500 FEET STILL IN SINKING AIR, THE PILOT COMMITTED TO SELECTING A FIELD FOR LANDING. THE RIGHT ELEVATOR/HORIZONTAL STABLILIZER SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE DURING THE LANDING ROLL AND SUBSEQUENT GROUND LOOP.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.