AVENAL, CA, USA
N6644A
WSK PZL KR-03A
THE GLIDER ENCOUNTERED EXTENSIVE TURBULENCE AND DOWNDRAFTS WHILE RETURNING TO THE GLIDER PORT. THE PILOT ELECTED TO LAND IN AN OPEN FIELD. WHILE TURNING ONTO THE BASE LEG FOR THE LANDING THE GLIDER ENCOUNTERED A SEVERE DOWNDRAFT. THE PILOT OBSERVED SOME POWERLINES AND DOVE THE GLIDER BENEATH THEM. WHILE DIRECTLY UNDER THE POWERLINES THE PILOT OBSERVED A 3-FT BARBEDWIRE FENCE. WHEN THE PILOT RAISED THE GLIDER'S PITCH ATTITUDE TO AVOID HITTING THE FENCE, THE GLIDER'S RIGHT WING RAISED AND STRUCK THE POWERLINES. THE PILOT DID NOT REPORT ENCOUNTERING ANY PREEXISTING MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES.
THE GLIDER'S ENCOUNTER WITH THE DOWNDRAFT. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENTS WERE THE TURBULENCE AND THE POWERLINES.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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