# NTSB CEN20CA218: Glasflugel Mosquito, N24HC, Alvarado, TX, June 4, 2020

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report
- Date: June 4, 2020, 17:15 local (22:15 UTC)
- Place: Alvarado, TX
- Coordinates: 32.346111, -97.198608 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.3461&lon=-97.1986&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: Flight Standards District Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 101405
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN20CA218
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101405/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101405
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA218

## Probable cause

The pilot's decision to divert to the private airport and his subsequent failure to maintain directional control while landing on a turf runway that contained tall grass.

## Findings

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

- [Environmental issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03030000): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Glasflugel MOSQUITO, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03030000/cases.md?model=3800350), [All aircraft, 57 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03030000/cases.md)
- [Airport facilities/design: runway/landing area condition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017035): Environmental issues › Operating environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Glasflugel MOSQUITO, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017035/cases.md?model=3800350), [All aircraft, 61 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017035/cases.md)
- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Glasflugel MOSQUITO, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=3800350), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Glasflugel MOSQUITO, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=3800350), [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.

- [Enroute: Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500); cases with it: [Glasflugel MOSQUITO, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md?model=3800350), [All aircraft, 252 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Glasflugel MOSQUITO, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=3800350), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); cases with it: [Glasflugel MOSQUITO, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=3800350), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The glider pilot reported that due to a weakening of soaring updraft conditions he diverted from his original destination to another airport that he had landed at on previous occasions. While on short final, the pilot noticed the turf runway had not been mowed recently. During the landing rollout, due to long grass blocking his field of view, the pilot was unable to maintain directional control and the glider impacted a fence to the left of the runway, damaging the left wing and fuselage. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the glider that would have precluded normal operation. The diversion airport was a private airport that required prior approval for landing.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N24HC](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N24HC), registered now, S/N 54, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Glasflugel MOSQUITO (Undesignat)
- Registry model: [Glasflugel MOSQUITO](https://openairdocs.org/model/glasflugel-mosquito) (registry code 3800350) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Glider
- Serial number: 54
- Year built: 1977
- Airframe hours: 1390
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 9, 2019
- Departed: TA11, Midlothian, TX
- Destination: TA11, Midlothian, TX
- Airport: 6XS2, Luscombe Acres, runway 20, 1,650 × 80 ft, grass/turf
- Equipment: Data recorder, Electronic multifunction display

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 65; injuries: none; private; last flight review April 27, 2019; seat: center; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 457 total, 211 in this make and model, 425 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 150° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 93 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 29.84 inHg
- Observed at: KCPT, 12 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 20200604011799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200604011799A), Jun 4, 2020: Glasflugel MOSQUITO, Alvarado, TX, Substantial damage. The pilot had been flying for about three hours in a glider when he lost sufficient thermal activity to stay aloft. The pilot selected Luscombe Airport, a…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 24, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101405. 3.5 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40485541&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Airport Information - AirNav (item 2, .PDF, 349 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40485542&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airport%20Information%20-%20AirNav-Master.PDF
- Photos (item 3, .PDF, 235 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40485543&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos-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.

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