Duo NV lands on Heavenly Ski Resort. Not kidding...

On Feb 6, 6:31*pm, matt michael wrote:
Another interesting question is to look at the elevation of the
landing site relative to elevation/distance to South Tahoe airport.

Having done much flying in and around the mountains on that side of
Lake Tahoe, I can tell you that just because a particular airport may
be within straight line gliding distance doesn't mean you can get
there. If you're low (for whatever stupid reason) and in the
mountains, you're left with trying to sneak through low points in the
ridge to get to the lower ground. You may get through one pass, only
to discover that there is yet another ridge on the other side which
you can't quite clear. If you're well and truly screwed, you turn
around only to find that you no longer have enough altitude to clear
the pass you just came through. I haven't messed up quite that badly,
but I did have to make it out of that sort of trap once by dodging
trees. One tends to get religion after an incident like that, and
allow (a lot) more margin...

Marc

On Feb 7, 12:25*am, Marc wrote:
On Feb 6, 6:31*pm, matt michael wrote:

Another interesting question is to look at the elevation of the
landing site relative to elevation/distance to South Tahoe airport.

Having done much flying in and around the mountains on that side of
Lake Tahoe, I can tell you that just because a particular airport may
be within straight line gliding distance doesn't mean you can get
there. *If you're low (for whatever stupid reason) and in the
mountains, you're left with trying to sneak through low points in the
ridge to get to the lower ground. *You may get through one pass, only
to discover that there is yet another ridge on the other side which
you can't quite clear. *If you're well and truly screwed, you turn
around only to find that you no longer have enough altitude to clear
the pass you just came through. *I haven't messed up quite that badly,
but I did have to make it out of that sort of trap once by dodging
trees. *One tends to get religion after an incident like that, and
allow (a lot) more margin...

Marc
I've been flying gliders 3 years, I'd like to learn something from
this. *But we really don't know the details. *Did the winds switch
from the forecast heading and increase in velocity? * Was the pilot
assuming ridge lift on that side, but instead he immediately ran into
1000fpm sink? 2000fpm sink? instantly closing himself off from a 180
back over the ridge to Minden? *Was he then monitoring the required
altitude to make South Tahoe Airport, headed there and realized the
extreme sink wouldn't allow that option? *I'm sure there is the rare,
"surprise" weather situation that goes way beyond even the most safety
conscious pilot's personal minimums, especially in the mountains.
*Until I know the details, he gets the benefit of the doubt from me.

One problem we have with soaring is that if we set our personal safety
minimums too high, we never get anywhere. *Cross country attempts
become nearly impossible. *So we back them off based on our skill and
comfort level. *That exposes us to that "whatever percent" chance that
we get shot down. *Maybe this guy just ran into his "whatever percent"

On a side note, I just visited and rented from SoaringNV a month ago.
*I was checked out in this very glider, but by a different instructor.
*My takeaway is that SoaringNV seemed to have their act together.
*Very much safety oriented. *After I was soloing, my instructor never
stopped monitoring my actions, making comments and suggestions,
pointing out dangers. *All their gliders have glide computers,
transponders, radios, audio varios, oxygen, *plus they have PowerFlarm
on order for all their gliders and tow planes. *No affiliation, just
wanted to make the point. *I was impresses. * ... Aaron