EPHRATA, WA, USA
CFTSW
EIRIAVION OY PIK 20B
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE BEGAN THE DESCENT TO THE RUNWAY FROM ABOUT 40 MILES WEST OF THE AIRPORT. WHEN THE GLIDER WAS APPROXIMATELY SEVEN MILES WEST, THE WIND SHIFTED AND THE GLIDER EXPERIENCED EXTREME SINK. THE PILOT DID NOT FEEL THAT THE GLIDER WOULD MAKE IT TO THE RUNWAY AND OPTED TO MAKE AN OFF AIRPORT LANDING ON THE UPSLOPE SIDE OF A HILL. THE PILOT SAID THAT WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH TO THE HILL, THE SUN WAS IN HIS EYES AND HE DID NOT SEE THE FENCE POST WHICH THE RIGHT WING STRUCK. THE GLIDER SPUN AROUND AND BROKE UP BEFORE COMING TO REST.
On September 9, 1995, at 1721 Pacific daylight time, an Eiriavion Oy PIK 20B, C-FTSW, collided with a fence post during an off airport landing, three miles west of Ephrata, Washington. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. The glider was substantially damaged and the private pilot, the sole occupant, was seriously injured. The flight had departed from Ephrata, on September 9, 1995, at 1300, for the pleasure flight. In a written statement, the pilot reported that after gliding for the past three hours, he decided to return to Ephrata. The pilot reported that he was high and started the descent from 40 miles west of the airport. When the glider was approximately seven miles west, the pilot reported that the wind shifted and the glider "...experienced extreme sink." The pilot stated that he did not feel that the glider would make it to the runway, and he opted to initiate an off airport landing to the up slope side of a hill. While on final approach to the hill, the pilot stated that the sun was in his eyes and he did not see the fence post which the right wing struck. The glider spun around and broke up before coming to rest.
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE FROM FROM THE FENCE POST. THE SUNGLARE WAS A FACTOR.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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