On July 15, 1999, about 1400 eastern daylight time, a Let L-23 glider, N254BA, registered to the North Florida Soaring Society Inc., collided with a tree during a forced landing near Herlong Airport, Jacksonville, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 local personal flight. The glider was substantially damaged. The commercial-rated pilot and one passenger reported no injuries. The flight had departed from the same airport about 1340. According to the pilot the tow airplane released the glider about 5 miles north of the departure airport at an altitude of about 2,300 feet above ground level (agl). The pilot stated, "...we soared for about 20 minutes, then traveled west for about 3 miles, when I decided to return to [the] airport. We were 5 miles at 1,600 feet agl. On return I encountered heavy sink, 400 to 500 feet per minute, I made a 180 [turn] to reach a field for landing, but could not reach it. I elected to stall into a tree to avoid homes."