A glider pilot was forced to make an emergency landing Tuesday afternoon on U.S. Highway 97 near Sunriver.

Henry Irvine, 50, of Bend, was en route to Bend when a sudden loss of altitude forced him to change his course, said Sgt. William Bailey, Deschutes County Sheriff Office. Irvine attempted to make it to Sunriver but was only able to guide his Lak-12 glider down to the roadway shortly after 3 p.m. near milepost 153, Bailey said.

“He would have successfully landed on the shoulder of the highway but his wing hit a road sign which put him in an awkward position,” Bailey said.

FAA records show the glider is owned by Irvine.

Irvine was the only passenger on board the aircraft and was uninjured in the forced landing.

The FAA and NTSB will investigate, said Allen Kenitzer, FAA communications officer.