# Accident 20200407003819A: Schempp-Hirth STANDARD CIRRUS, Clermont, FL, April 7, 2020

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 7, 2020, 14:00 local time
- Place: Clermont, FL
- Airport: Seminole Lake Glider Port
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 28.4114° N, 81.8353° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.4114&lon=-81.8353&mi=10
- Aircraft: N271BL, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N271BL) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Schempp-Hirth STANDARD CIRRUS (registry code 38019VE, https://openairdocs.org/model/schempp-hirth-standard-cirrus) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: NONE (registry code 00000, https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SCHEMPP-HIRTH STANDARD CIRRUS
- Reported engine: NONE NONE
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 20 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA20LA145](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20LA145) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200407003819A

## Narrative

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

AIRCRAFT DEPARTED RUNWAY 36 AT 6FL0 WITH TOW AIRCRAFT.  AT APPROXIMATELY 500 FT, SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, THE GLIDER UNHOOKED FROM THE TOW ROPE.  THE GLIDER FLEW FOR ONLY A SHORT TIME.  THE GLIDER CONTACTED THE GROUND IN THE BACK YARD OF A HOUSE JUST OFF THE NE DEPARTURE END OF RUNWAY 36.

IN A STATEMENT, THE TOW PILOT STATED THAT THEY ENCOUNTERED SOME TURBULENCE JUST BEFORE HE REALIZED THAT THE GLIDER WAS NO LONGER IN TOW.  THE TOW PILOT LOST SIGHT OF THE GLIDER AT THAT POINT AND DID NOT SEE IT AGAIN UNTIL IT HAD MADE CONTACT WITH THE GROUND.  A WITNESS STATED THAT GLIDER LOOKED LIKE THE PILOT WAS TRYING TO TURN BACK SOUTH TOWARDS THE RUNWAY AND IN THE LAST MOMENTS OF FLIGHT THE GLIDER WAS POINTED DOWN TOWARDS THE GROUND.

THE TOW PLANE WAS NOT PART OF THE ACCIDENT.  THERE WAS NOT AN ISSUE WITH THE TOW PLANE HOOK OR TOW ROPE.

THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED.

THE PILOT'S INJURIES WERE FATAL.

## 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 ERA20LA145](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20LA145), Apr 7, 2020: Schempp Hirth Standard Cirrus (N271BL), Groveland, FL, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s exceedance of the glider’s critical angle of attack following his premature termination of the tow for reasons that could not be determined, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall/spin…

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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