An Air Force Academy glider crashed July 21 in a heavily wooded area approximately 200 yards west of the railroad tracks on Academy grounds. The pilot, Air Force Academy Cadet First Class Scott R. Moore, was admitted to the Academy hospital, where he was reported in stable condition. The Schweizer 126 single-seat glider was on a routine training mission. The Air Force Academy soaring program is one of the largest and most active in the United States, with more than 25,000 accident-free sorties annually. The last Academy sailplane accident occurred in the spring of 1989.
Sailplane training is designed as a leadership, motivation, and character development experience.
It also exposes cadets to the essence of the Air Force flying mission. Surveys indicate that airmanship programs are the most highly rated among graduates of the Academy. A board of officers will investigate the incident.