Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
INACCURATE WEATHER EVALUATION BY THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR A FORCED LANDING.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
On July 15, 1995, at 1230 mountain daylight time, a Schweizer SGS 126B Glider, N8611R, sustained substantial damage during an off airport landing near Durango, Colorado. The student pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for this local area student solo training flight, and no flight plan was filed.
According to the pilot, he encountered weather conditions which caused a sink rate to develop and he could not find thermals for lift. He said he made an off airport landing in the only field within his gliding range and the glider struck a fence.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# FTW95LA305