Event SEA95LA069

Factual narrative

On March 18, 1995, at 1200 mountain standard time, a Scheibe Bergfalke II-55, N5924, collided with the terrain short of runway 21 at Bozeman, Montana. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the local instructional flight. The glider was substantially damaged and the private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The pilot reported that the purpose of the flight was a solo flight to accumulate time for the glider rating. After gliding for approximately two hours, the pilot returned to the airport for landing. While in the traffic pattern, the pilot reported that he relied on the altimeter to determine the gliders elevation, even though the pilot stated that he felt low. While turning from the base leg to final approach, the pilot stated that the glider was too low and that he was not going to make the runway. The pilot selected an access road and during the left turn, the left wing collided with the ground. The glider spun around before coming to rest. After the accident, the pilot noted that the altimeter read 4,650 feet. The field elevation is 4,480. The pilot stated that before take off he had set the altimeter to field elevation, however, he did not reset the altimeter for the landing. Runway advisory services are available for the airport. The pilot stated that he got the wind direction and speed, but did not ask or receive the current altimeter setting for the landing. WHILE IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN FOR LANDING, THE PILOT STATED THAT HE RELIED ON THE ALTIMETER TO DETERMINE ELEVATION, EVEN THOUGH HE FELT THAT HE WAS LOW. WHILE TURNING BASE TO FINAL APPROACH, THE PILOT REALIZED THAT HE WAS TOO LOW AND WAS NOT GOING TO MAKE THE RUNWAY. DURING A LEFT TURN TO MANEUVER TO AN ACCESS ROAD, THE LEFT WING CONTACTED THE GROUND AND THE GLIDER SPUN AROUND BEFORE COMING TO REST. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, THE PILOT STATED THAT HE DID NOT GET THE CURRENT ALTIMETER SETTING FROM THE FSS BEFORE LANDING, AND NOTED THAT THE ALTIMETER READING WAS 170 FT HIGHER THAN FIELD ELEVATION. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12