COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- Air Force Academy officers are investigating how a TG-15 glider happened to land on the Garden of the Gods golf course Wednesday afternoon.

The glider was flown by senior Kurt Cloutier, who was not hurt. He was the only person on board the glider.

The course was closed for renovations at the time, so no one was in the area at the time of the landing. The glider landed near the western-most hole and did not damage any private property.

The Academy said Cloutier landed the glider because weather conditions caused a loss of lift, eliminating the possibility of returning to the Air Force Academy Airfield.

Since February 2006, the TG-15 has been the primary aircraft for the cadet cross-country advanced competition flying team, the academy said.

The Academy Soaring Program is designed to allow cadets to receive their first hands-on experience in a flying environment.

The 94th Flying Training Squadron executes all training associated with the soaring program, including basic soaring, instructor pilot upgrade and advanced soaring. The squadron flies over 15,000 sorties a year, making it the largest and most active soaring operation in the United States.

Sailplane training is designed as a leadership and motivational experience for the cadets. In fact 95 percent of the training is conducted by qualified cadet instructor pilots, of which Cloutier is one.