What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On Sunday April 26, 2009 at approximately 1500 (1900 gmt) at Adrian, MI (kadg) airport; robert a. schmall glider instructor (CFI certificate 2834470) for the Adrian soaring club (asc) decided to take the glider N238SB (m/n L-23, s/n 928088)up one last time due impending weather to the south, position the glider for storage and demonstrate a crosswind landing with student privacy data omitted the glider was towed by tom shipp (comm. Certificate 1745641) piloting N4815Y a pawnee (m/n PA-25-235, s/n 25-4567). The glider took-off on runway 23 with intension to land on 29; Mr. Schmall stated that at 300 feet it began to rain and the glider released from tow at 1000 AGL just north of runway 11-29. Mr schmall lined up for landing runway 29, it was rainy heavily, gusty and he had trouble seeing from the rear seat. Mr. Schmall then encountereed heavy gusts northerly and downward pushing him toward the ground, he then made a decision to land in the grass north of runway 29. The glider left wing at the spoiler impacted a top of a runway sign and taxi light was also damaged, the glider spun around 180 degrees and came to rest in the grass just north of runway 29 and the 23 taxiway signage. There were no injuries were sustained by the instructor or the student, both walked away and did not need any medical attention.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON SUNDAY APRIL 26, 2009 AT APPROXIMATELY 1500 (1900 GMT) AT ADRIAN, MI (KADG) AIRPORT; ROBERT A. SCHMALL GLIDER INSTRUCTOR (CFI CERTIFICATE 2834470) FOR THE ADRIAN SOARING CLUB (ASC) DECIDED TO TAKE THE GLIDER N238SB (M/N L-23, S/N 928088)UP ONE LAST TIME DUE IMPENDING WEATHER TO THE SOUTH, POSITION THE GLIDER FOR STORAGE AND DEMONSTRATE A CROSSWIND LANDING WITH STUDENT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ THE GLIDER WAS TOWED BY TOM SHIPP (COMM. CERTIFICATE 1745641) PILOTING N4815Y A PAWNEE (M/N PA-25-235, S/N 25-4567). THE GLIDER TOOK-OFF ON RUNWAY 23 WITH INTENSION TO LAND ON 29; MR. SCHMALL STATED THAT AT 300 FEET IT BEGAN TO RAIN AND THE GLIDER RELEASED FROM TOW AT 1000 AGL JUST NORTH OF RUNWAY 11-29. MR SCHMALL LINED UP FOR LANDING RUNWAY 29, IT WAS RAINY HEAVILY, GUSTY AND HE HAD TROUBLE SEEING FROM THE REAR SEAT. MR. SCHMALL THEN ENCOUNTEREED HEAVY GUSTS NORTHERLY AND DOWNWARD PUSHING HIM TOWARD THE GROUND, HE THEN MADE A DECISION TO LAND IN THE GRASS NORTH OF RUNWAY 29. THE GLIDER LEFT WING AT THE SPOILER IMPACTED A TOP OF A RUNWAY SIGN AND TAXI LIGHT WAS ALSO DAMAGED, THE GLIDER SPUN AROUND 180 DEGREES AND CAME TO REST IN THE GRASS JUST NORTH OF RUNWAY 29 AND THE 23 TAXIWAY SIGNAGE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED BY THE INSTRUCTOR OR THE STUDENT, BOTH WALKED AWAY AND DID NOT NEED ANY MEDICAL ATTENTION.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.