# Accident 19890802030339A: Sphrth CIRRUS, Littlefield, TX, August 2, 1989

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 2, 1989, 15:30 local time
- Place: Littlefield, TX
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.9192° N, 102.3348° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Littlefield, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9192&lon=-102.3348&mi=10
- Aircraft: N158WT, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N158WT-1992-07-20) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Schempp-Hirth CIRRUS (registry code 38019VC, https://openairdocs.org/model/schempp-hirth-cirrus) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SPHRTH CIRRUS
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 77 total, 28 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW89LA142](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW89LA142) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890802030339A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ENCOUNTERED AREA OF SEVERE TURBULENCE ON CROSSCOUNTRY GLIDER. LOST CANOPY TAIL BROKE OFF PILOT PARACHUTED SAFELY.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB FTW89LA142](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW89LA142), Aug 2, 1989: Schempp-Hirth Cirrus (N158WT), Littlefield, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT & THE SEVERE TURBULENCE.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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