diff --git a/src/FDM/JSBSim/initialization/FGInitialCondition.cpp b/src/FDM/JSBSim/initialization/FGInitialCondition.cpp
index 4a2724d4f..056397fff 100644
--- a/src/FDM/JSBSim/initialization/FGInitialCondition.cpp
+++ b/src/FDM/JSBSim/initialization/FGInitialCondition.cpp
@@ -662,8 +662,11 @@ double FGInitialCondition::GetAltitudeASLFtIC(void) const
 
 double FGInitialCondition::GetTerrainElevationFtIC(void) const
 {
-  FGLocation contact;
   FGColumnVector3 normal, v, w;
+  FGLocation contact;
+  double a = fdmex->GetInertial()->GetSemimajor();
+  double b = fdmex->GetInertial()->GetSemiminor();
+  contact.SetEllipse(a, b);
   fdmex->GetInertial()->GetContactPoint(position, contact, normal, v, w);
   return contact.GetGeodAltitude();
 }
diff --git a/src/FDM/JSBSim/models/FGInertial.cpp b/src/FDM/JSBSim/models/FGInertial.cpp
index d5d70c993..730055de9 100644
--- a/src/FDM/JSBSim/models/FGInertial.cpp
+++ b/src/FDM/JSBSim/models/FGInertial.cpp
@@ -211,8 +211,9 @@ FGColumnVector3 FGInertial::GetGravityJ2(const FGLocation& position) const
 
 void FGInertial::SetAltitudeAGL(FGLocation& location, double altitudeAGL)
 {
-  FGLocation contact;
   FGColumnVector3 vDummy;
+  FGLocation contact;
+  contact.SetEllipse(a, b);
   GroundCallback->GetAGLevel(location, contact, vDummy, vDummy, vDummy);
   double groundHeight = contact.GetGeodAltitude();
   double longitude = location.GetLongitude();
diff --git a/src/FDM/JSBSim/models/FGPropagate.cpp b/src/FDM/JSBSim/models/FGPropagate.cpp
index a27820e03..4bdebb247 100644
--- a/src/FDM/JSBSim/models/FGPropagate.cpp
+++ b/src/FDM/JSBSim/models/FGPropagate.cpp
@@ -548,8 +548,9 @@ void FGPropagate::RecomputeLocalTerrainVelocity()
 
 double FGPropagate::GetTerrainElevation(void) const
 {
-  FGLocation contact;
   FGColumnVector3 vDummy;
+  FGLocation contact;
+  contact.SetEllipse(in.SemiMajor, in.SemiMinor);
   Inertial->GetContactPoint(VState.vLocation, contact, vDummy, vDummy, vDummy);
   return contact.GetGeodAltitude();
 }