20190804022979A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Schleicher ASW-24 · Paulden, AZ · August 4, 2019

Date: August 4, 2019 · 13:05 local
Place: Paulden, AZ
Phase of flight: Landing: Rollout
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N37T
NTSB investigation: NTSBGAA19CA483
Reported as: Schleicher ASW-24
Reported engine: Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 1
Pilot’s certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor, private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 1,117 total3 in this make and model17 in the last 90 days

N37TRegistration cancelled Sep 22, 2022 · Schleicher ASW-24S/N 24096 · Built 1990 Airframe modelSchleicher ASW-24 Engine modelAmateur-built UNKNOWN ENG

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.

While soaring near seligman, AZ, PIC experienced sink at approximately 13,000'. PIC then attempted to return to AZ86. While enroute to AZ86 and after speaking with a friend familiar with AZ57, PIC decided to divert to AZ57 who PIC had never been to.

Believing PIC identified AZ57, PIC committed to landing. PIC realized to late that landing strip was not AZ57 and was forced to attempt landing on a road. Upon landing, glider struck wing on a utility box adjacent to the road.

As the FAA filed it

WHILE SOARING NEAR SELIGMAN, AZ, PIC EXPERIENCED SINK AT APPROXIMATELY 13,000'. PIC THEN ATTEMPTED TO RETURN TO AZ86. WHILE ENROUTE TO AZ86 AND AFTER SPEAKING WITH A FRIEND FAMILIAR WITH AZ57, PIC DECIDED TO DIVERT TO AZ57 WHO PIC HAD NEVER BEEN TO.

BELIEVING PIC IDENTIFIED AZ57, PIC COMMITTED TO LANDING. PIC REALIZED TO LATE THAT LANDING STRIP WAS NOT AZ57 AND WAS FORCED TO ATTEMPT LANDING ON A ROAD. UPON LANDING, GLIDER STRUCK WING ON A UTILITY BOX ADJACENT TO THE ROAD.

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 GAA19CA483Accident · Serious injuriesData collectionFinal reportPaulden, AZThe pilot's distraction due to the environment, his failure to lower the landing gear, and his subsequent failure to maintain directional control while landing the glider, which resulted in impact with a utility box.Aug 4, 2019 · Substantial damage