What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Glider pilotprivacy data omitted of N974CQ attempting a return for landing to Methow State S52, could not make it all the way back and selected a open MEADOW10 miles short of target. Lift generated from mountainous terrain and valley he selected to traverse did not generate the needed lift as anticipated by visual signs. PIC determined safest option to land off airport and setup to descend into field with full flaps and spoilers and full braking on ground but could not come to full stop before end of meadow with serval trees in his path PIC elected to take tree on RH wing spinning him around and striking LH wing and breaking off tail. PIC received minor injuries and remained in aircraft until EMS extracted him for neck injury precautions..
As the FAA filed it
GLIDER PILOT^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ OF N974CQ ATTEMPTING A RETURN FOR LANDING TO METHOW STATE S52, COULD NOT MAKE IT ALL THE WAY BACK AND SELECTED A OPEN MEADOW10 MILES SHORT OF TARGET. LIFT GENERATED FROM MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN AND VALLEY HE SELECTED TO TRAVERSE DID NOT GENERATE THE NEEDED LIFT AS ANTICIPATED BY VISUAL SIGNS. PIC DETERMINED SAFEST OPTION TO LAND OFF AIRPORT AND SETUP TO DESCEND INTO FIELD WITH FULL FLAPS AND SPOILERS AND FULL BRAKING ON GROUND BUT COULD NOT COME TO FULL STOP BEFORE END OF MEADOW WITH SERVAL TREES IN HIS PATH PIC ELECTED TO TAKE TREE ON RH WING SPINNING HIM AROUND AND STRIKING LH WING AND BREAKING OFF TAIL. PIC RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES AND REMAINED IN AIRCRAFT UNTIL EMS EXTRACTED HIM FOR NECK INJURY PRECAUTIONS..
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.