NYC96LA011

The glider pilot released from the tow plane at 4,400 ft msl, and, using thermals, climbed to 5,200 feet. With 50-knot winds aloft, the pilot maneuvered to find a mountain wave on the downwind side of a mountain ridge. He first encountered a downdraft in excess of 1,000 feet per minute, and then he encountered a horizontal rotor. He was unable to reach rising air, and continued in a descent into the trees. The glider came to rest inverted, with the empennage separated from the fuselage.

On October 15, 1995, about 1230 eastern daylight time, an Grob G-102CS glider, Canadian Registry CGUOX, was substantially damaged when it struck trees near Lake Placid, New York. The Canadian certificated, private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the local flight, which departed Lake Placid at 1200, and was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

The FAA reported that the pilot used an aero tow to become airborne. In the NTSB Accident Report, the pilot stated:

After release from the tow plane at 4400 ft, MSL N.W. of Slide Mountain, I entered a strong updraft indicating 8 KTS rate of climb and reached a height of 5200 ft. I used this updraft...facing a 50 Kn...wind, all in search of a standing mountain wave. I was caught in a severe downdraft...I decided to get closer to the mountain ridge in the area of the first updraft. Experiencing continuous and severe height loss together with severe turbulence I realized that I had entered a violent horizontal axis atmospheric rotor that would drive the glider to the ground. My only choice was to prepare for a landing in the trees trying to stall at the level of the branches....

The FAA reported that when the glider came to rest, the empennage had separated from the fuselage.