Primary finding
Probable cause
An in-flight encounter with wind gusts while making an approach to land in a field resulting in the aircraft landing early and colliding with a berm.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot stated he was downwind of the airport, and realized he could not make it back so he elected to make an off-field landing. After turning onto final approach he said "the glider was hit by a gust of wind and forced into the ground." The glider hit a mound of dirt on the edge of ground water causing the glider to ground-loop.
Source record
Factual narrative
On March 10, 2003, about 1430 eastern standard time, a Schempp-Hirth Discus-2B glider, N828JN, registered and operated by an individual, crashed while on approach to landing at the Seminole Lakes gliderport, Clermont, Florida. No flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of accident. The glider was substantially damaged. The glider pilot reported no injuries. The flight had departed from the same gliderport at approximately 1245. The pilot stated he departed Seminole Lake gliderport with the intention to complete a contest and return to the gliderport. The contest was cancelled due to impending bad weather consisting of gusting winds, wind shear, and possible thunderstorms. He was downwind of the airport, and realized he could not make it back so he elected to make an off-field landing. After turning onto final approach he said "the glider was hit by a gust of wind and forced into the ground." The glider hit a mound of dirt on the edge of ground water causing the glider to ground-loop.