20051102028109A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Schler ASH 26 E · Sparks, NV · November 2, 2005

Date: November 2, 2005 · 09:42 local
Place: Sparks, NV
Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N26XL
NTSB investigation: NTSBLAX06LA024
Reported as: Schler ASH26E
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 19,500 total400 in this make and model160 in the last 90 days

N26XLRegistration cancelled Sep 14, 2007 · Schleicher Alexander ASH 26 ES/N 26181 · Built 2001 Airframe modelSchleicher Alexander ASH 26 E Engine modelAmateur-built UNKNOWN ENG

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) While glider soaring in VMC at approximately 20,000FT. MSL, near a lenticular cloud, the pilot stated that he thought frost was forming in the top of the canopy of the glider. When the pilot attempted to wipe the frost from the top of the inside of the canopy he discovered that the situation changed and that it was not frost but a cloud forming above the glider. The pilot stated that he turned on his turn & bank indicator, but that due to cold soaking, the instrument spooled up slowly and was not reliable. The pilot stated that his glider was lifted into the cloud and without the turn and bank, he lost control of the aircraft. The pilot stated that the aircraft broke up, and that after the aircraft broke up, he exited the glider and parachuted to the ground.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) WHILE GLIDER SOARING IN VMC AT APPROXIMATELY 20,000FT. MSL, NEAR A LENTICULAR CLOUD, THE PILOT STATED THAT HE THOUGHT FROST WAS FORMING IN THE TOP OF THE CANOPY OF THE GLIDER. WHEN THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO WIPE THE FROST FROM THE TOP OF THE INSIDE OF THE CANOPY HE DISCOVERED THAT THE SITUATION CHANGED AND THAT IT WAS NOT FROST BUT A CLOUD FORMING ABOVE THE GLIDER. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE TURNED ON HIS TURN & BANK INDICATOR, BUT THAT DUE TO COLD SOAKING, THE INSTRUMENT SPOOLED UP SLOWLY AND WAS NOT RELIABLE. THE PILOT STATED THAT HIS GLIDER WAS LIFTED INTO THE CLOUD AND WITHOUT THE TURN AND BANK, HE LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT BROKE UP, AND THAT AFTER THE AIRCRAFT BROKE UP, HE EXITED THE GLIDER AND PARACHUTED TO THE GROUND.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB LAX06LA024Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportSparks, NVThe pilot's inadvertent flight into instrument meteorological conditions which resulted in a subsequent loss of control and an in-flight breakup. A contributing factor was the spool up delay for the emergency turn and bank indicator.Nov 2, 2005 · Destroyed