On 20 Mar 2018, a LITHUANIAN FACTORY OF AVIATION LAK 12 NO SERIES was involved in an aviation accident near Sunriver, OR. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The glider pilot's inadequate flight planning, which resulted in an off-airport landing. This summary draws on records from NTSB.
A glider pilot encountered a strong sink rate at 8,800 ft and, unable to find thermals, attempted to reach an airport but had to land on a highway, striking road signs during touchdown.
Incident Details
The pilot of a glider reported that while flying at an altitude of 8,800 feet, the aircraft entered a strong sink rate of approximately 400 to 600 feet per minute. The pilot was unable to locate any thermals to maintain or gain altitude. Deciding to head toward a nearby airport for a landing, the pilot soon realized that the glider would not be able to reach the airport due to the sink rate and distance.
Landing and Damage
The pilot chose to land on a highway instead. During the landing rollout, the glider's wings struck road signs, causing substantial damage to the wings. The glider came to rest on the right side of the highway.
Pilot Report
The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the glider that would have precluded normal operation. No other issues were noted.