# Accident 20061214031329A: Schler ASK13, Gregory, MI, December 14, 2006

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 14, 2006, 13:15 local time
- Place: Gregory, MI
- Airport: Richmond Field
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: In Traffic Pattern-Circling
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 42.4417° N, 84.0667° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.4417&lon=-84.0667&mi=10
- Aircraft: N545TT, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N545TT) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Schleicher AS-K13 (registry code 38015GS, https://openairdocs.org/model/schleicher-as-k13) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: NONE (registry code 00000, https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SCHLER ASK13
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 177 total, 30 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI07CA040](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI07CA040) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20061214031329A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2006 AT APPROXIMATELY 13:00 EST, N545TT, A SCHLEICHER AS-K13 GLIDER TOOK OFF IN TOW FROM RICHMOND FIELD (69G), RUNWAY 18, IN GREGORY MICHIGAN, WITH THE PILOT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ THE PILOT IN COMMAND (PIC) IN THE BACK SEAT AND ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ AS PASSENGER IN THE FRONT SEAT. THE SCHLEICHER AS-K13 GLIDER WAS TOWED THROUGH BUMPY AIR TO ABOUT 2000 FEET AND THEN THROUGH CALM AIR AND RELEASED AT 3000 FEET. THE FLIGHT WAS UNREMARKABLE. HEADING NORTH, ON THE DOWNWIND LEG, ALONG UNADILLA ROAD, THE GLIDER WAS LOSING ALTITUDE FASTER THAN NORMAL. THE PIC TURNED ON AN ANGLED BASE, OVER DOYLE ROAD (AT APPROXIMATELY 240 DEGREES) EARLIER THAN NORMAL, DUE TO THE RAPID LOSS OF ALTITUDE. THE GLIDER STRUCK THE TOP BRANCHES OF TREES ADJACENT TO DOYLE ROAD AND ENDED FLIGHT VERTICAL, WITH THE NOSE INTO THE GROUND, TANGLED IN ELECTRICAL WIRES, GUIDE WIRES, A TREE AND AN ELECTRICAL POST AT APPROXIMATELY 13:15 EST. NO INJURIES SUSTAINED BY THE PIC OR PASSENGER. A POST ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT INSPECTION REVEALED NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE GLIDER. NOTE 1: THE SCHLEICHER AS-K13 GLIDER MAX GROSS WEIGHT IS 1060 LBS, EMPTY WEIGHT IS 650 LBS AND MAX PAYLOAD IS 410 LBS. THE PIC WEIGHT IS 185 LBS AND THE PASSENGER WEIGHT IS 110 LBS. NOTE 2: PRIOR TO FLIGHT PIC ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING AWOS REPORTS: KOZW - WINDS 170 AT 8-10 KT AND KTEW -WINDS 170 AT 9 KT, GUSTING 15 KT. NOTE 3: THE FOLLOWING WEATHER REPORTS WERE OBTAINED FROM LANSING AFSS AFTER THE ACCIDENT: KOZW - 13:17 EST, WINDS 170 AT 9 KT. KTEW - 13:17 EST, WINDS 200 AT 5 KT, GUSTING 14 KT. KJXN - 12:56 EST, WINDS 210 AT 13 KT, GUSTING 19 KT. KARB - 12.53 EST WINDS 210 LT 9 KT, GUSTING 17 KT.

## 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 CHI07CA040](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI07CA040), Dec 14, 2006: Schleicher AS-K13 (N545TT), Gregory, MI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's unexpected encounter with wind shear and his inability to remain clear of the trees while on final approach to land.

## Other reports on N545TT (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 20180913013519I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180913013519I), Sep 13, 2018: Schleicher AS-K13 (N545TT), Gregory, MI, Minor damage. CFI statement: During a training flight (flight review) I was giving to an experience private glider pilot, we were doing a "no spoiler" landing on runway 36…

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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