NTSB Factual Report

According to the pilot, he departed Warren-Sugarbush Airport on a local flight at approximately 1300 eastern daylight time in his Schempp-Hirth Ventus-2C sailplane, and flew to a point approximately 65 miles to the east. During the return leg of the flight, the "lift deteriorated" and the "headwind increased." At approximately 1700, the pilot realized he would not reach the airport, so he opted to perform a precautionary landing. He selected a "large hayfield," and later stated that the "approach and landing were successful." However, during the rollout, the left wingtip contacted terrain, and the sailplane groundlooped to the left. A postaccident examination revealed that the tailboom had separated from the forward portion of the fuselage. At the time of the accident, the surface winds, approximately 40 miles west of the accident site, were recorded as 350 degrees at 18 knots, with gusts to 23 knots. The recorded surface winds for the 2 hours prior to this were similar, with directions of 010 to 350 degrees, and speeds of 12 to13 knots and gusts of 18 to 20 knots. In his report to the National Transportation Safety Board, the pilot noted that he should have "diverted to an airport" sooner.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's delayed decision to divert to a suitable landing area. Contributing to the accident was the uneven terrain of the forced landing site.