Glider crash-lands by Hwy. 97 near Sunriver

(Update: New details on plane’s crash-landing location, flight)

A glider plane crash-landed along Highway 97 near the Sunriver exit Tuesday afternoon, Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies said.

The plane landed shortly before 3 p.m. near the South Century Drive exit to Sunriver, coming to a rest just off the shoulder of the southbound lanes and not blocking the road, Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies said,

Deputies said the pilot. flying from Bend to Paulina Peak and back, was the glider’s only occupant and was able to get out on his own, declining medical attention.

When he realized he would not be able to make it back to Bend, the pilot diverted to Sunriver Airport but didn’t make it, deputies said.

Sheriff’s Sgt. William Bailey said the pilot is a 50-year-old Bend resident and a licensed and certified glider pilot. He said the pilot landed along the highway shoulder and might have done so without incident, if one of the aircraft’s long winds hadn’t clipped a road sign along the highway.

FAA records indicate the LAK-12 glider is owned by Henry Irvine of Bend.

There were no injuries, but traffic was affected at times as the plane was disassembled and removed from the scene in a trailer.