ATL87LA208

NTSB accident investigation · Schleicher K8B · Monroe, GA · July 12, 1987

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
July 12, 1987, 13:35 local (17:35 UTC)
Place
Monroe, GA
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Approach
Aircraft
N7624Schleicher K8B
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report March 10, 1988
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19870712037389A
Case key
7481

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

UndershootApproach - vfr pattern - final approach
In-flight planning/decision - poorPilot in commandCause
Planned approach - improperPilot in commandCause
Terrain condition - berm
Clearance - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
Proper alignment - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
Proper glidepath - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
Unsafe/hazardous condition warning - inadequateAirport personnel
In flight collision with objectApproach - vfr pattern - final approach
Object - tree(s)
In flight collision with terrain/waterDescent - uncontrolled
Terrain condition - berm

Analysis

The private plt was on his first flt of the day in a glider that he had not flown recently. He reported the takeoff, tow and traffic pattern as normal. He used the spoilers sparingly until he turned final. He was most surprised, he said, when one of the acft's wings contacted a small tree just prior to touch down. His report shows that the impact with the tree was 525 ft short of the end of the parallel asphalt rwy. Also shown on his report is his intended ground track which is shown west (left) of the rwy center line. The left wing of the glider hit the tree. The arpt diagram found in the 1987 Georgia arpt directory does not show the grass rwy. Another glider club operating at the arpt had, reportedly, distributed a diagram showing the grass rwy starting even with the end of the paved 03 rwy. There were no markings to show the center line or the end of the grass rwy.

Aircraft

Registration
N7624
Reported as
Schleicher K8B
Category
Glider
Serial number
S/N 8793
Airframe hours
1,104
Engine
unknown
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
Georgia Lockheed Em.Rec.
Registered owner
Georgia Lockheed Em. Rec. Club
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · April 11, 1987 · 47 hours before
Airport
A06 · Monroe Walton County Arpt, runway 3, grass/turf

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
27
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Front
Flight hours
266 total · 93 in this make and model · 209 as pilot in command · 12 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Visibility
5 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
93 °F, dew point 79 °F

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.