# NTSB CEN20LA427: Schleicher ASK21, N721WC, Hinckley, IL, September 29, 2020

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: September 29, 2020, 13:50 local (18:50 UTC)
- Place: Hinckley, IL
- Coordinates: 41.772578, -88.652368
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.7726&lon=-88.6524&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 102064
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN20LA427
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102064/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102064
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20LA427

## Probable cause

The pilot’s improper control input during a bounced landing that resulted in the glider impacting terrain.

## Findings

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

- [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Alexander Schleicher ASK 21, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=3801539), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md)
- [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Alexander Schleicher ASK 21, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=3801539), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Alexander Schleicher ASK 21, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=3801539), [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: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Alexander Schleicher ASK 21, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=3801539), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot and passenger were landing after their second flight of the day. The pilot reported that during the landing he flared late, and the glider touched down on the main landing gear and bounced back into the air. The pilot pushed the control stick forward and the glider impacted the runway on its nose wheel resulting in substantial damage to the left side of the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the glider that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N721WC](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N721WC), registered now, S/N 21650, built 1997 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SCHLEICHER ASK21 (NO SERIES)
- Registry model: [Alexander Schleicher ASK 21](https://openairdocs.org/model/alexander-schleicher-ask-21) (registry code 3801539) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Glider
- Serial number: 21650
- Airframe hours: 3121
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Windy City Soaring Association
- Registered owner: Windy City Soaring Association
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Other
- Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 2020, 3,121 hours before
- Departed: 0C2, Hinckley, IL
- Airport: 02C, Hinckley Airport, runway 27, 2,640 × 100 ft, grass/turf
- Equipment: None

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 72; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; last flight review April 14, 2019; seat: front; flight hours: 1,273 total, 77 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 260° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 29.85 inHg
- Observed at: KARR, 8 nm away
- METAR: KARR 291852Z 26012KT 10SM SCT023 BKN030 13/08 A2985 RMK AO2 SLP111 T01280078

## 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 20200929017129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200929017129A), Sep 29, 2020: Alexander Schleicher Gmbh & Co ASK 21, Hinckley, IL, Substantial damage. Took a pattern tow to 1800 MSL to practice approach and landing. Flared late and bounced on main gear. Rose up about 2 feet. Slight push forward on the stick…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 14, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102064. 586 KB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 314 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11470513&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120%20_JZ_20201005_2_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Record of conversation, FAA inspector (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 45 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11431881&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20Template,%20Bill%20Borah-Rel.pdf
- Photographs (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 226 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11431668&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photographs%20of%20ASK-21%20Fuselage%20Damage-Rel.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.