# Accident 20240525008959A: Alexander Schleicher Gmbh & Co ASH 31 MI, Winter Haven, FL, May 25, 2024

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 25, 2024, 13:25 local time
- Place: Winter Haven, FL
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Other, Specify
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 28.0113° N, 81.7178° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.0113&lon=-81.7178&mi=10
- Aircraft: N20SW, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N20SW) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Alexander Schleicher ASH 31 MI (registry code 3801549, https://openairdocs.org/model/alexander-schleicher-ash-31-mi) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Austro IAE-50R-AA (registry code 06401, https://openairdocs.org/engine/austro-iae-50r-aa) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ALEXANDER SCHLEICHER GMBH & CO ASH 31 MI
- Reported engine: AUSTRO IAE 50R-AA
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA24LA228](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA228) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240525008959A

## Narrative

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

PILOT NOTICED THAT HE WAS LOW IN ALTITUDE AND DID NOT HAVE THE ALTITUDE TO RETURN TO ORIGINATION AIRPORT.  PILOT SOUGHT CLOUD HOPING FOR AN UPDRAFT TO GAIN ALTITUDE BUT ONBOARD EMERGENCY ENGINE FAILED TO START AND WAS NOT ABLE TO HELP PILOT GAIN ALTITUDE.  PILOT THE SOUGHT PLACE TO LAND AROUND ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.  AS HE WAS CIRCLING LOOKING FOR PLACES TO LAND, HE CLIPPED THE TOP OF AN OAK TREE, BROKE OFF THE WINGTIP WHICH FURTHER CAUSED THE PLANE TO FLIP INVERTED AND CRASH INTO A BACKYARD THE SKID INTO THE STREET.  AIRCRAFT WAS ON A NEIGHBORHOOD STREE INVERTED WITH PILOT TRAPPED IN THE CREWSTATION.  PILOT SUSTAINED SERIOUS CUTS AND BRUISING TO HIS HEAD, ARMS AND LEGS AND WAS AIRLIFTED TO THE HOSPITAL FOR EVALUATION.

## 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 ERA24LA228](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA228), May 25, 2024: Schleicher ASH 31 MI (N20SW), Winter Haven, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to ensure that a suitable landing area was available in case the restart of the motor glider’s engine was unsuccessful. Contributing, was insufficient battery charge to extend the…

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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