# Accident 20170526004809A: Schleicher ASW 28-18E, Ephrata, WA, May 26, 2017

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 26, 2017, 16:40 local time
- Place: Ephrata, WA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 47.3292° N, 119.7097° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.3292&lon=-119.7097&mi=10
- Aircraft: N63KR, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N63KR-2019-12-16) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Schleicher ASW 28-18E (registry code 3801558, https://openairdocs.org/model/schleicher-asw-28-18e) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Solo 2350 series (registry code 58107, https://openairdocs.org/engine/solo-2350-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SCHLEICHER ASW 28-18E
- Reported engine: SOLO 2350 SER
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 52 total, 5 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR17FA107](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR17FA107) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170526004809A

## Narrative

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

PILOT TOOK OFF FROM KEPH BY MEANS OF AERO TOW.  AIRCRAFT RELEASED AT APPROXIMATELY 4000 MSL AND PROCEEDED WESTBOUND. THE GLIDER FLEW WESTWARD REACHING ABOUT 10-12 MILES WEST OF KEPH REACHING AN ALTITUDE OF APPROXIMATELY 8000 MSL.  THE GLIDER THEN TURNED EASTWARD IN THE GENERAL DIRECTION OF KEPH. AS THE GLIDER FLEW EASTBOUND IT BEGAN TO LOSE ALTITUDE. THE FLIGHT ENDED OFF FIELD. A FARMER CALLED THE SHERIFF?S OFFICE AND A SARGENT RESPONDED TO FIND THE CRASH SITE AND 1 FATALITY (PILOT). THE FAA IIC ARRIVED ON SCENE THE FOLLOW DAY AND WAS MET BY THE NTSB IIC. THE CRASH SITE SHOWED THE GLIDER IMPACTED THE GROUND RIGHT WIND LOW AND AT A HIGH ANGLE OF ATTACK INDICATING A POSSIBLE STALL/SPIN. THE LANDING GEAR HANDLE WAS FOUND IN THE DOWN AND LOCKED POSITION. THE WIND WATER TANKS DID NOT CONTAIN WATER. THE WATER WOULD NORMALLY BE JETTISONED PRIOR TO LANDING. THE ENGINE WAS RETRACTED WITH NO INDICATION OF USE. THE ENGINE DEPLOYMENT CONTROL WAS FOUND IN THE RETRACTED/STOWED POSITION. THE APPROXIMATELY 1.5 GALLON FUEL TANK HELD SOME REMAINING FUEL BUT WAS RUPTURED AND LEAKING. THE RIGHT ELEVATOR WAS DAMAGED BY THE IMPACT. THE WINGS AND ALL CONTROL SURFACES WERE ATTACHED AND INTACT ON THE GLIDER. THE CONTINUITY OF THE AILERON, ELEVATOR, AND RUDDER WERE ALL ESTABLISHED.

## 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 WPR17FA107](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR17FA107), May 26, 2017: Schleicher ASW 28 18E (N63KR), Ephrata, WA, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain glider control while attempting to conduct an off-airport landing, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and impact with 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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.