20150802012549A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Schleicher ASW-20B · Logan, UT · August 2, 2015

Date: August 2, 2015 · 15:00 local
Place: Logan, UT
Phase of flight: Descent
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N20YZ
NTSB investigation: NTSBWPR15LA232
Reported as: Schleicher ASW-20B
Reported engine: NONE NONE
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 1
Pilot’s certificate: Private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 280 total224 in this make and model15 in the last 90 days

N20YZRegistration cancelled Mar 21, 2018 · Schleicher ASW-20BS/N 20664 · Built 1984 Airframe modelSchleicher ASW-20B Engine modelNONENone

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.

Pilot participating in mountain flying event, released from tow aircraft, completed 3 figure 8S. Flew in between 2 peaks in mountainous area. Lost lift, attempted to escape area. Left wing clipped a tree forcing aircraft down into trees. Substantial damage to aircraft. Serious injury to pilot.

As the FAA filed it

PILOT PARTICIPATING IN MOUNTAIN FLYING EVENT, RELEASED FROM TOW AIRCRAFT, COMPLETED 3 FIGURE 8S. FLEW IN BETWEEN 2 PEAKS IN MOUNTAINOUS AREA. LOST LIFT, ATTEMPTED TO ESCAPE AREA. LEFT WING CLIPPED A TREE FORCING AIRCRAFT DOWN INTO TREES. SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO AIRCRAFT. SERIOUS INJURY TO PILOT.

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 WPR15LA232Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportLogan, UTThe pilot’s failure to maintain glider control when it encountered a strong downdraft while maneuvering near a ridgeline.Aug 2, 2015 · Substantial damage