# Accident 20241206017979A: Schleicher ASW-24, Vero Beach, FL, December 6, 2024

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 6, 2024, 12:40 local time
- Place: Vero Beach, FL
- Airport: New Hibiscus Airpark
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 27.6394° N, 80.5346° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.6394&lon=-80.5346&mi=10
- Aircraft: N244RW (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: SCHLEICHER ASW-24
- Reported engine: NONE NONE
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 13,000 total, 146 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA25FA066](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25FA066) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20241206017979A

## Narrative

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

ON 12/06/2024, THE PILOT WAS CONDUCTING GLIDER OPERATIONS AT NEW HIBISCUS AIRPARK (X52) IN A SCHLIECHER ASW-24B AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS TOWED TO 3000 FT AGL AND RELEASED TO THE SOUTH OF THE AIRFIELD. WITNESSES STATE, AND VIDEO EVIDENCE CORROBORATES, THAT THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED THE DOWNWIND (180 DEG) AT THE IP. GROUND PERSONNEL WATCHING THE FLIGHT STATED THEY ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT THE PILOT VIA RADIO, BUT THE PILOT DID NOT RESPOND. AT APPROXIMATELY 1000 FT AGL, THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED A LEFT WING DOWN SPIN. THE AIRCRAFT ROTATED APPROXIMATELY 2-3 TIMES BEFORE THE PILOT RERECOVERED FROM THE SPIN.  UPON EXITING THE SPIN, APPROXIMATELY 100-150 FT AGL, THE AIRCRAFT PITCHED UP SHARPLY TO A HIGH ANGLE OF ATTACK, IN TURN STALLING THE AIRCRAFT.  THE AIRCRAFT THEN PITCH NOSE OVER AND IMPACTED THE GROUND VERTICALLY, NOSE AND RIGHT WING DOWN. THE AIRCRAFT BROKE APART DURING THE CRASH IN THE GRASSY MEDIAN BETWEEN EAST AND WEST BOUND LANES OF FLORIDAY HWY 60, APPROXIMATELY 0.5 MILES WEST OF I-95. THE PILOT WAS DECEASED UPON IMPACT.  POST CRASH REVIEW OF INSTRUMENTS INDICATED AN IMPACT SPEED OF 130KTS.

THE PILOT WAS GIVEN A PREFILGHT AND COCKPIT ORIENTATION BY THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT. THE PILOT SHOWED NO SIGNS OF HEALTH ISSUES AT THE TIME OF PREFIGHT.

WEATHER AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT IS LISTED WITHIN THE METARS FROM VRB. CLEAR SKY, 10SM, WINDS AT 280, 7 KTS.

## 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 ERA25FA066](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25FA066), Dec 6, 2024: Schleicher ASW24 (N244RW), Vero Beach, FL, substantial damage, 1 fatal, investigation ongoing

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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