# NTSB CHI06CA219: Shempp-Hirth Discuss B, N888TK, Tipton, IN, August 5, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 5, 2006, 14:57 local (18:57 UTC) - Place: Tipton, IN - Coordinates: 40.342777, -86.073608 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3428&lon=-86.0736&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report December 28, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration, Indianapolis FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 64609 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI06CA219 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/64609/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI06CA219 ## Probable cause The glider pilot's improper in-flight decision to continue searching for thermal lift, instead of landing when the glider was in range of a suitable landing area. Contributing factors to the accident was the lack of thermal lift which resulted in a hard landing in the cornfield. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Miscellaneous/other, maneuvering - weather condition - no thermal lift (contributing factor) - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - flight to new destination - attempted, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - encountered (contributing factor) - terrain condition - crop (contributing factor) - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - descent - excessive (contributing factor) ## Analysis The glider pilot was seriously injured during an off-field landing. The pilot reported that while maneuvering near a suitable landing area the glider encountered an area of sinking air. The pilot stated that instead of landing in the available open, uncultivated field, he elected to maneuver toward a "better looking cloud a mile or so further west and away from my selected landing field." The pilot reported that, "On the way to this cloud I encountered strong sinking air, which often surrounds a thermal." The pilot stated that he eventually elected to turn back towards where he came from, but encountered "even heavier-sinking air" and that he did not have enough altitude to glide back to his selected landing site. The pilot reported that the only landing areas available at that time were established cornfields. The pilot stated that he "made a carefully controlled descent into the corn, so not to put one wing in first and cause a cartwheel landing." The pilot reported the glider traveled about 40 feet into the corn crop before the airplane decelerated and dropped "vertically from about 3 to 4 feet." The pilot fractured three vertebrae during the hard landing. The glider sustained minor damage, limited to the gear doors. ## Factual narrative The glider pilot was seriously injured during an off-field landing. The pilot reported that while maneuvering near a suitable landing area the glider encountered an area of sinking air. The pilot stated that instead of landing in the available open, uncultivated field, he elected to maneuver toward a "better looking cloud a mile or so further west and away from my selected landing field." The pilot reported that, "On the way to this cloud I encountered strong sinking air, which often surrounds a thermal." The pilot stated that he eventually elected to turn back towards where he came from, but encountered "even heavier-sinking air" and that he did not have enough altitude to glide back to his selected landing site. The pilot reported that the only landing areas available at that time were established cornfields. The pilot stated that he "made a carefully controlled descent into the corn, so not to put one wing in first and cause a cartwheel landing." The pilot reported the glider traveled about 40 feet into the corn crop before the airplane decelerated and dropped "vertically from about 3 to 4 feet." The pilot fractured three vertebrae during the hard landing. The glider sustained minor damage, limited to the gear doors. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N888TK](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N888TK), registered now, S/N 134, built 1986 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Shempp-Hirth Discuss B - Registry model: [Schempp-Hirth DISCUS B](https://openairdocs.org/model/schempp-hirth-discus-b) (registry code 38019VN) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider - Serial number: 134 - Airframe hours: 1852 - Damage: Minor damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 1, 2006 - Departed: I99, Alexandria, IN - Destination: I99 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 75; injuries: serious; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; last flight review August 1, 2004; seat: single; flight hours: 1,034 total, 116 in this make and model, 980 as pilot in command, 33 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 100° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: MIE, 30 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 20060805027859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060805027859A), Aug 5, 2006: Schemp DISCUSB, Tipton, IN, Minor damage. (-23) On August 5, 2006, at approximately 1545 local time, a schempp-discus-b glider, N888TK, operated by the pilot [privacy data omitted], made an off airport… 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.