On March 20, 1997, about 1430 eastern standard time, a Schweizer SGS 1-26E, N33WP, registered to a private person, crashed while gliding near Benton, Tennessee, while on a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft received substantial damage and the private-rated pilot was not injured. The flight originated from Benton, Tennessee, the same day, about 1345. The pilot stated he received a tow to 3,000 feet. After he released, he made passes back and forth along a ridge line for about 40 minutes. The wind on the ridge decreased during this time and he elected to head north back toward the valley and the gliderport. He was about 20 feet above the ridge and as he turned toward the valley he encountered sinking air. The glider descended and the a wing tip caught a tree. The glider spun around and nosed down into the trees. The glider came to rest nose down in the trees, about 20 feet off the ground. The pilot climbed down and was rescued.