Glider makes emergency landing

Colleges and Universities A-Z Air Force Academy - Colorado Springs
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<p>Cadet in glider makes emergency landing at Kissing Camels</p>

<p>June 18, 2008 - 12:42PM
By LANCE BENZEL
THE GAZETTE</p>

<p>An Air Force Academy cadet flight instructor was forced to make an emergency landing Wednesday on Kissing Camels Golf Course at the Garden of the Gods Club.</p>

<p>Cadet Kurt Cloutier, a senior, was piloting a TG-15 glider when he encountered bad weather, said Meade Warthen, a spokesman for the Air Force Academy.</p>

<p>“The glider lost lift, and (Cloutier) looked around for a safe place to land and found one,” he said.</p>

<p>The landing occurred about 12:17 p.m. on the westernmost hole of Kissing Camels, a 27-hole golf course in northwestern Colorado Springs. Cloutier was alone and uninjured.</p>

<p>“Our guys (reported) no hazards, no injuries and (that) it landed pretty easily,” said Lt. Julie Stone, a spokeswoman for the Colorado Springs Fire Department.</p>

<p>Early accounts - later determined to be inaccurate - were that an airplane ran out of fuel. The glider involved does not have an engine and was towed aloft by a Piper Cub.</p>

<p>As a flight instructor, Cloutier was cleared for solo flight. Cadet flight instructors train junior pilots.</p>

<p>Air Force personnel retrieved the plane Wednesday. An investigation will be held, but because there was no serious injury or property damage, the Air Force may not convene a full board of officers.</p>

<p>Kissing Camels is divided into three 9-hole courses. The plane landed on the western 9, which was closed Wednesday. A tournament was being held on the other two courses, but no disruptions were reported.</p>

<p>“I didn’t get any ‘Holy Cow’ stories,” said Carol Schwankl, an assistant to the general manager. “I got a call from the Air Force saying, ‘We have a glider down on your golf course. Who should we talk to?’” She was told the plane would have to be disassembled and towed out. The landing site was inspected Wednesday. Managers at the golf course did not return phone messages inquiring whether the playing surface was damaged.</p>

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<p>Gasdoc I was on the phone with potter that afternoon and asked her "So did you get to go up yet?" her reply "No I'm next up, just waiting for the tow." About and hour later at work I check my email and get the intial CS-Gazette clip from a parents group saying "Academy Cadet makes emegency landing at Kissing Camels". I called and when she answered "No it wasn't me, it was a traveling team member. Stop worrying."</p>

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<p>Kurt was one of my kids (he was a four degree in my squadron when I was the training/academic officer). Good on him for getting the glider down safely.</p>