DEN03LA110

The pilot said he was having difficulty maintaining control of the glider due to strong winds. He decided to land on a dirt road, but abandoned the attempt when he saw an approaching vehicle. The pilot landed in an adjacent field, approximately 2 miles south of the airport of departure. During the landing, the glider struck rough terrain that severed the empennage.

On June 23, 2003, approximately 1830 mountain daylight time, an Alex Schleicher glider, D-KIMK, was substantially damaged when the pilot attempted to land in a field near Paragonah, Utah. The private pilot, the sole occupant on board, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the personal flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated at the Parowan Airport approximately 1630.

The pilot and aircraft operator failed to report the accident to NTSB. NTSB was notified of the accident by FAA's Flight Standards District Office in Salt Lake City , who was notified by the Iron County Sheriff's Office. FAA did not travel to the scene. When NTSB became aware of the accident, the pilot had left the United States and returned to Germany. NTSB Form 6120.1/2, Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, was sent to the operator's address in Parowan, Utah, on July 9, 2003. No reply was received. A second accident report was sent to the operator on August 18, 2003 via certified mail. Although the operator acknowledged receipt of the report, it was never completed and returned to NTSB. This report is based on what the pilot originally reported in a telephone conversation, and excerpts from the Iron County Sheriff's report (#03-00946).

The pilot said he was having difficulty in maintaining control of the glider due to strong winds. He decided to land on a dirt road (State Route 91), but abandoned the attempt when he saw an approaching vehicle. The pilot landed in an adjacent field, southwest on the intersection of 4200 West and State Route 91, approximately 2 miles south of the airport. During the landing, the glider struck rough terrain that severed the empennage. The accident occurred at 37 degrees, 51.58' north latitude, and 112 degrees, 48.90' west longitude.