Incident Overview
An experimental glider equipped with a stowable engine was involved in an accident during a return flight after a 4-hour and 50-minute flight. The pilot, needing engine power to reach the airport, deployed the engine, but it would not start. This necessitated an off-airport forced landing, during which the aircraft struck a tree.
Aircraft Details
The aircraft is an experimental glider with a stowable two-cycle engine mounted behind the cockpit. When the engine is stowed, the glide ratio is approximately 40:1. When the engine is deployed but not running, the glide ratio reduces to about 10:1.
Flight and Engine Deployment
The pilot had been flying for 4 hours and 50 minutes and decided that engine power would be required to reach the airport. Upon deploying the engine, it failed to start. The pilot then executed a forced landing off the airport, and the aircraft hit a tree during the landing.