A Vermont man’s ride in his glider on Sunday ended with a crash landing into a leafy tree — prompting a rescue mission by officials in New Hampshire.
The glider pilot was uninjured after crashing in the White Mountain National Forest in Benton, N.H., around 4:20 p.m. but ended up dangling from a tree about 20 feet off the ground while stuck inside his cockpit, according to the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department.
“Luckily he had cell service and was able to text 911 to request assistance,” officials said.
Henry Swayze, 84, of Tunbridge, Vt., took off from Post Mills, Vt., around 2 p.m. and flew to Canon Mountain in Franconia, N.H. But when he tried to navigate his way back to Post Mills, he soon found himself in trouble, officials said.
Swayze encountered difficulty getting lift — the force that holds the aircraft in the air — and tried circling near Hogsback Ridge. On his final try, his glider hit a downdraft and crashed.
Fish and Game officials were notified of the crash around 4:50 p.m. and rescuers reached Swazye shortly before 7 p.m. Firefighters used a pulley and harness system to lower Swayze from the tree, where he remained in his glider, officials said.
By 9:50 p.m., Swayze and rescuers were back on the road. The Federal Aviation Administration was given Swayze’s information and location for further investigation, officials said.
Shannon Larson can be reached at shannon.larson@globe.com. Follow her @shannonlarson98.
