Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 35; Flight Crew Total 245; Flight Crew Type 6
Situational Awareness
Ground Event / Encounter Ground Strike - Aircraft; Ground Event / Encounter Object
Flight Crew Landed As Precaution
Human Factors
While flying in the glider; I was too far from the airport and did not have enough altitude to make it back safely. I identified a large field nearby I could safely land in; did a short pattern; and landed in a field. Other than location; this was a normal landing; there were no injuries or damage to the glider. There was a small amount of crops damaged by the landing; and more crops damaged in moving the gilder from the center of the field to the trailer.The decisions made once the land out was decided were good; and the execution of the off field landing went about as well as it could. The main cause was a poor decision to attempt to get to another thermal without sufficient altitude to make it back to the airport if the thermal did not develop. This type of decision will not be repeated. Flights will stay in the airport vicinity unless sufficient altitude; plus a large safety factor; is available to return in any similar event.
Glider pilot reported landing in a field after he realized he did not have sufficient altitude to make it back to the airport.