# NTSB CEN11CA440: Schempp-Hirth Flugzeugbau DUO Discus, N533BG, Stonewall, TX, July 1, 2011

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: July 1, 2011, 11:48 local (16:48 UTC)
- Place: Stonewall, TX
- Coordinates: 30.179445, -98.590835 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.1794&lon=-98.5908&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Windshear or thunderstorm](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report October 4, 2011
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 80964
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11CA440
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/80964/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=80964
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA440

## Probable cause

The loss of directional control during an off-field landing in gusting wind.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Schempp-Hirth Flugzeugbau DUO DISCUS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=3801901), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Windshear or thunderstorm](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390) (defining event); cases with it: [Schempp-Hirth Flugzeugbau DUO DISCUS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390/sequence.md?model=3801901), [All aircraft, 224 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Schempp-Hirth Flugzeugbau DUO DISCUS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=3801901), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); cases with it: [Schempp-Hirth Flugzeugbau DUO DISCUS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=3801901), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md)

## Analysis

According to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, the pilot experienced a loss of lift while soaring and performed an off-field landing to a pasture. During the landing, a gust of wind blew the glider down an embankment and into a barbed wire fence. During the impact with the fence, the left wing sustained leading edge damage, and the empennage separated partially from the fuselage. A postaccident examination of the glider and its systems revealed no preimpact malfunctions or failures.

## Factual narrative

According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the pilot experienced a loss of lift while soaring and performed an off field landing to a pasture. During the landing a gust of wind blew the glider down an embankment and into a barbed wire fence. During the impact with the fence, the left wing sustained leading edge damage, and the empennage separated partially from the fuselage. An examination of the glider and its systems revealed no preimpact malfunctions or failures.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N533BG](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N533BG), registered now, S/N 533, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SCHEMPP-HIRTH FLUGZEUGBAU DUO DISCUS
- Registry model: [Schempp-Hirth Flugzeugbau DUO DISCUS](https://openairdocs.org/model/schempp-hirth-flugzeugbau-duo-discus) (registry code 3801901) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Glider
- Serial number: 533
- Airframe hours: 232.6
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, January 25, 2011
- Departed: 5C1, San Antonio, TX
- Destination: 5C1, San Antonio, TX

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 65; injuries: serious; commercial, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; flight hours: 1,013 total, 100 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 9 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 38,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observed at: KT82, 16 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20110701019869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110701019869A), Jul 1, 2011: Schempp-Hirth Flugzeugbau DUO DISCUS, Stonewall, TX, Substantial damage. Pilot was conducting 14 CFR part 91 operations in the local area. Pilot was not able to to maintain altitude due to loss of thermal lift. Pilot initiated an…

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 12, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=80964. 68 KB in all.

- Record of Telephone Conversation with the FAA (item 1, .PDF, 68 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40351364&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Telephone%20Conversation%20with%20the%20FAA-Master.PDF

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.