Accident summary

On August 10, approximately 4 PM, pilot hit sink behind Marshall and made a controlled tree landing in an inaccessible area behind Regionals.

Conditions 

The recorded winds at Marshall were 7-12 MPH south at 4 PM on August 10.

Emergency response

Pilot was extracted from the trees by SB county helicopter

Injuries

None

Damage

None noted – PG was retrieved from trees

Pilot involved

The pilot holds current CSS and USHPA ratings appropriate for flying from Marshall

Root cause

Pilot was low behind Marshall and could not make glide to the backup LZ

Proximate cause

After launching from Marshall pilot attempted to cross to Crestline without ensuring enough altitude to provide margin for unexpected conditions.

Corrective action

Pilot is a talented, quickly advancing PG pilot; however, pilot has only been flying for about 6 months.  Pilot had been awarded P3 one and a half weeks before this accident.

In conversations with pilot’s instructor and this reporter, the pilot acknowledged that enthusiasm to advance had clouded the decision making process and pilot had not adequately considered the risk involved with the decision to attempt to cross from Marshall to Crestline.

Both pilot’s instructor and this reporter provided thoughts on risk analysis and how flying skills can come quickly but experience comes more slowly and the time to accumulate experience cannot be cut short.

Pilot’s instructor will provide guidance and flight plan approval as pilot continues to improve.