Sail Plane
Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Glider
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 12; Flight Crew Total 1412; Flight Crew Type 168
Distraction; Situational Awareness; Workload; Communication Breakdown; Confusion
Conflict NMAC; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Exited Penetrated Airspace
Environment - Non Weather Related; Airspace Structure
I was flying a high-performance single-seat sailplane on a local soaring flight. At the time of the incident I was heading in the general direction of N85; looking for lift under some scattered cumulus clouds with bases around 5;000 MSL. I was monitoring 123.3; which is used by cross-country soaring pilots for informal communications about conditions; etc.; and was not on the CTAF for N85. I noticed a line of open parachutes about 1 mile ahead of me; at and slightly below my altitude. There was no collision hazard at this point. I circled to try to work some lift and heard engine noise. A powered aircraft that was obviously the jump plane appeared from behind and circled outside of me until his higher speed took him away (in effect flying across my nose). I stopped my turn and headed away from N85. After a short interval I again heard engine noise from behind; I maintained a straight course and the jump plane passed me on the right and again cut across my nose (from right to left) before heading away. The jump plane was a single-engine high-wing aircraft with the door removed; I am not sure of the type. I did not see the tail numbers. Presumably the pilot was trying to warn me of the parachutists and divert me away from the area; we were not in radio communication. I was heading toward the parachutists when I first saw them; but was not heading toward them at the time of either pass by the jump plane. The passes were uncomfortably close; and the second was completely unnecessary; I was already leaving the area. An uncharitable interpretation would be that this was an 'air rage' incident. I have flown in this general area about 4 times in the last 3 months; in good VMC; and this is the first time I have seen any parachuting activity even though there is a NOTAM for it that blocks out more or less the entire spring; summer and fall. In future I will monitor the CTAF for N85 when in this area.
A glider pilot near N85 saw parachutist 1 mile ahead and circled to gain altitude but was then approach very closely by the jump aircraft twice before exiting the area.