Student lands an SGS 1-26E on a road short of the runway after misjudging the glide

A student pilot was slightly hurt and his SGS 1-26E substantially damaged when he came down short of the runway at Willimantic, on the shoulder of a road about 240 m from the threshold. He had released at 900 m AGL some 3 km south of the field and worked there without finding lift, meeting two descents of about 5 m/s before setting off for a straight-in to runway 36. A third came on a 1.5 km final. Judging that he could not reach the runway, he flew a low-energy touchdown onto the road shoulder, and the left wing took the damage.

1. Solo training flight, tow to 900 m: A student pilot released from tow at about 900 m above the ground, some 3 km south of the airfield, and practised air work there.
2. No lift where he was working: There was no thermal activity in the area south of the field, and he met two descents of about 5 m/s while working there.
3. Straight-in chosen from 3 km out: He set off for a straight-in approach to runway 36, the nearest runway, from his position south of the field.
4. A third descent on final: A third rapid descent came as he ran in on a final of about 1.5 km, and he judged that he could not reach the runway.
5. Down on a road short of the field: He flew a low-energy touchdown onto the shoulder of a road about 240 m from the threshold. The left wing was substantially damaged and he was slightly hurt.