Event FTW95LA326

Factual narrative

On July 24, 1995, at 1420 mountain daylight time, a Glasflugel Standard Libelle glider, N2972, was substantially damaged during landing near Red River, New Mexico. The private pilot/operator was not injured. The glider departed Taos, New Mexico, at 1215 for the personal flight conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The following information was reported by the pilot in the attached Pilot/Operator Report. The glider was "over canyon near Red River" when an "atmospheric condition of sink" was encountered. The pilot "explored for," but was unable to locate, any "lift/thermal activity." A "decision to plan for land out in difficult terrain was made" and the pilot selected the "single" available landing site, a "horse meadow" with a "usable" landing length of "less than 1/4 mile." "Canyon narrowness" required a "steep 180 degree turn to final with 5 to 8 knots extra approach speed." "Float carried the glider to mid-point of meadow" and a "ground loop to left" was "initiated on touchdown to stop." After exiting the glider, the pilot noticed a "breeze 5+ knots up valley" which had resulted in a "tailwind component" during the landing. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the glider and reported the empennage was partially severed. WHILE SOARING OVER A CANYON, THE GLIDER ENCOUNTERED AN 'ATMOSPHERIC CONDITION OF SINK' AND THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE ANY THERMAL ACTIVITY. HE DECIDED TO 'LAND OUT IN DIFFICULT TERRAIN' AND SELECTED THE 'SINGLE' AVAILABLE SITE, A MEADOW 'LESS THAN 1/4 MILE' LONG. 'CANYON NARROWNESS' REQUIRED A 'STEEP 180 DEGREE TURN TO FINAL WITH 5 TO 8 KNOTS EXTRA APPROACH SPEED.' 'FLOAT CARRIED THE GLIDER' TO A TOUCHDOWN AT THE MEADOW'S 'MID-POINT' AND THE PILOT INITIATED A GROUND LOOP 'TO STOP.' AFTER EXITING THE GLIDER, THE PILOT REALIZED HE HAD LANDED WITH A TAILWIND OF '5+ KNOTS.' Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12