On Monday, June 24, 2013 1:54:38 AM UTC-7, kirk.stant wrote:
As others have mentioned, TA had given us an excellent account of his accident and rescue. In particular, his actions after the crash should be studied by all of us who fly in similar terrain and could be subject to the same situation. I, for example, need to rethink my SPOT installation and my survival gear, neither of which would have provided nearly the same level of help that TA's did.



But what I immediately noticed in TA's account of the flight up to the crash was his apparent "comfort" at altitudes above the terrain that those of us who fly out west would consider really scary. I flew the same task on the same day as TA and it was a weak day - I didn't even try to go down to the last turn area (having started late) and barely avoided a landout on the way back to Moriarty - digging out from 1300 agl over Estancia - a nice little airstrip which already had a glider on it). Looking at my trace, I worked really hard to stay at least 3000' agl, and below that went into survival mode - because in my experience in Arizona, if you are that low you are just about to land somewhere unless you get really serious about digging out, and better have a good place to land within easy reach.



Having also flown a bit in eastern and midwest conditions, I understand how one can get used to working a lower lift band - often you have to work down to 2000 agl or lower to get anywhere, and with fields available and thermals weaker but more frequent, can afford to push lower with the expectation of finding something. That just isn't going to work out west!



Thank-you to TA for sharing his experiences with us, and I hope he gets back into the game again soon - after all, isn't walking away from a broken glider the first step to getting a better one?



Kirk

66

I also think (after reading the narrative) that the willingness to work at very low AGLs is a main proximate cause. I am unfamiliar with Moriarty, but quite familiar with high western desert flying, and I will assume that Moriarty is similar. Where I fly, at 1500 ft over the valleys your soaring day is done, and you should be in the pattern of a known good airport. In fact even 3000 or 4000 ft over the valleys and you should be looking for a place to land, as you are below the ridges where the lift is likely to be and might be 20 miles from the nearest landing site. I understand this might be quite different in the flat east. He writes:

"I have an absolute rule about never doing a dead glide to an airport that I have not personally inspected unless I sufficient altitude to get to the airport location at least 1000’ agl. This gives me time to find the airport if it isn’t exactly where the database says it is, and to pick an alternate landing field if the airport can’t be found."

In the western desert, you do not arrive 1000' AGL at an unknown field and expect to find another landing site nearby. There may not be another one for 30 miles. Many airstrips, dirt roads, and highways are also not suitable to land as they were created by pushing a berm up to the sides higher that a glider's wings. Some remote highways have pickets for snow removal or drug interdiction. Desert sage brush is not hospitable to glider landings, and often conceals very rocky and uneven ground. Dry lakes are a better choice but can have their own problems.

I am also uncomfortable with flying close to (and below) an unknown ridge in gusty 17 - 20 knot conditions in the mountains.

I do applaud TA for being open about his experiences, it helps us all.