# Accident 20130412007509A: Schleicher ASW-27, Middletown, CA, April 12, 2013

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 12, 2013, 13:15 local time
- Place: Middletown, CA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Rollout
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.7719° N, 122.5753° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7719&lon=-122.5753&mi=10
- Aircraft: N503CW, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N503CW) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Schleicher ASW-27 (registry code 3801501, https://openairdocs.org/model/schleicher-asw-27) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SCHLEICHER ASW-27
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 5,735 total, 1,134 in this make and model, 3 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR13CA218](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13CA218) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130412007509A

## Narrative

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

GLIDER WAS RELEASED AT 4000 FT.  PILOT FLEW UNTIL LIFT BEGAN TO DECREASE.  PILOT HEADED BACK TO AIRPORT AND ENCOURTERED HEAVY DOWNDRAFT.  WAS UNABLE TO STREACH GLIDE TO AIRPORT AND ELECTED TO LAND IN A FIELD ENROUTE TO THE AIRFIELD.  ON LANDING ENCOUNTERED ROUGH GROUND WHICH CAUSED THE GLIDER TO GROUND LOOP, CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE GLIDER.

## 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 WPR13CA218](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13CA218), Apr 12, 2013: Schleicher ASW-27 (N503CW), Middletown, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The glider’s encounter with atmospheric lift conditions not sufficient to maintain flight, which resulted in a forced landing on rough terrain.

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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