Event ERA12CA321

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that he was preparing to land and the wind favored an approach to the north. While on approach to land, he observed another glider being pulled out onto the field. Concerned about obstacle clearance during the landing, he continued on a downwind leg to the north to set up for a landing to the south. The last thing he recalled prior to the accident was a “very strong sink.” The glider collided with a cedar tree, then the ground, about 1,016 feet from the north end of the runway. A witness reported that the glider appeared to climb and then banked hard to the right and rolled upside down before the collision. An inspector with the Federal Aviation Administration inspected the wreckage and confirmed substantial damage to the empennage. His inspection of the wreckage revealed that the glider was airworthy at the time of the accident. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failure that would have precluded normal operation of the glider. The pilot reported that, when he was preparing to land, the wind favored a landing to the north. However, during the approach to land, he observed another glider being pulled out onto the field. Concerned about obstacle clearance during the landing, the pilot continued north on a downwind leg to set up for a landing to the south. The last thing he recalled before the accident was encountering a “very strong sink.” The glider subsequently collided with a cedar tree and the ground, substantially damaging the glider’s empennage. A witness reported that the glider appeared to climb and then banked hard to the right and rolled upside down before the collision. Postaccident examination and the pilot’s statement indicated no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

Hierarchical cause / factor breakdown from the FAA bulk avdata database. Each finding tagged C (Cause) or F (Factor).

• C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
• C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Airspeed-Not attained/maintained - C