# NTSB CEN22LA363: Schleicher ASW-20B, N921M, Waller, TX, August 7, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 7, 2022, 12:45 local (17:45 UTC) - Place: Waller, TX - Coordinates: 30.035345, -95.923976 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.0353&lon=-95.9240&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - 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: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 105678 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN22LA363 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105678/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105678 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA363 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain the proper descent rate during an off-airport landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot; cases with it: [Schleicher ASW-20B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md?model=3801520), [All aircraft, 559 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Schleicher ASW-20B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=3801520), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/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: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Schleicher ASW-20B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=3801520), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The glider was being air towed by an airplane. The glider pilot reported that, the takeoff roll and liftoff were normal, but halfway down the runway, he heard an “unfamiliar wind noise in the cockpit.” He lost sight of the tow airplane and pulled his tow release handle. The pilot attempted to land straight ahead but was unsuccessful in deploying the airbrakes. Subsequently, he turned right to land between a hanger and trees. During the forced landing in a grass field, the empennage section sustained substantial damage. The glider pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the glider that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N921M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N921M-2024-04-15), registration cancelled 2024-04-15, S/N 20622, built 1983 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SCHLEICHER ASW-20B - Registry model: [Schleicher ASW-20B](https://openairdocs.org/model/schleicher-asw-20b) (registry code 3801520) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider - Serial number: 20622 - Year built: 1983 - Airframe hours: 2270 - Engines: NA none - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, January 30, 2022 - Departed: 89TA, Waller, TX - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: 89TA, Soaring Club of Houston Gliderport, runway 17, 3,000 × 300 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; last flight review March 19, 2022; seat: single; flight hours: 609 total, 0 in this make and model, 546 as pilot in command, 21 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,900 ft broken - Temperature: 92 °F, dew point 71 °F - Altimeter: 30.08 inHg - Observed at: CLL, 14 nm away - METAR: KTME 070715Z AUTO 00000KT 8SM BKN019 26/24 A3008 RMK AO2 ## 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 20220807014239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220807014239A), Aug 7, 2022: Schleicher ASW-20B, Waller, TX, Substantial damage. On August 7, 2022, at 2:46 pm this office became aware of this accident when inspector [privacy data omitted] received a call from the FAA south west regional… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 2, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105678. 11.3 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 11.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14465728&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=612020220818_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 311 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14465238&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20CEN22LA363-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.