MARICOPA, AZ, USA
N103BG
BURKHART GROB G-103A
THE PLT RPRTD THAT AFTER GLIDING IN A SINK FOR SVRL MINUTES, HE BEGAN FLYING ABOUT 500' ABOVE A NORTH-SOUTH MTN RIDGE IN SEARCH OF LIFT. WHILE ON A NORTHERLY HEADING, THE LEFT WING ROSE & THE PLT INTERPRETED THIS AS LIFT. HE TURNED TO THE LEFT (WEST) WHICH PUT THE GLIDER ON THE LEE SIDE OF THE RIDGE. THE GLIDER THEN ENTERED A SINK & WENT BELOW THE RIDGE LINE. THE PLT TRADED ALT FOR SPEED AS HE HEADED TOWARD THE SAILPORT. RPRTDLY, THE GLIDER WAS TRAVELING AT ABOUT 100 KTS WHEN A WING HIT A TALL (TREE LIKE) CACTUS & THEN THE GLIDER CRASHED. ABOUT 15 MI AWAY AT PHOENIX, THE WIND WAS FROM 120 DEG AT 6 KTS.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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