# NTSB DEN07CA092: Centrair 101C, N991JB, Alamogordo, NM, May 12, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 12, 2007, 14:15 local (20:15 UTC) - Place: Alamogordo, NM - Coordinates: 32.84, -105.990554 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8400&lon=-105.9906&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 27, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 65868 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN07CA092 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65868/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN07CA092 ## Probable cause The pilot's inability to control the glider after encountering the downdraft causing the glider to land short of the dirt strip. Factors contributing to the accident were the downdraft and the runway marker. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor) - Undershoot, landing - flare/touchdown - proper glidepath - not possible, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - flare/touchdown - object - airport sign/marker (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot was landing on a dirt strip that parallels the main runway. Surface winds were "light." Approximately 25 to 50 feet above the ground, the pilot encountered a "heavy sink" and realized he was probably going to touch down in a ditch perpendicular to the dirt strip. The glider touched down at the far end of the ditch. The right wing dropped and struck a runway marker causing substantial damage to glider. The glider spun around and came to a stop 120 to 150 feet from the marker. ## Factual narrative The pilot was landing on the dirt strip that parallels runway 21. Surface winds were "light." Approximately 25 to 50 feet above the ground, the pilot encountered "heavy sink" and realized he was probably going to touch down in a ditch perpendicular to the dirt strip. The glider touched down at the far end of the ditch. The right wing dropped and struck a runway marker. The glider spun around and came to a stop 120 to 150 feet from the marker. The pilot reported no anomalies with the glider prior to the accident. He reported finding a 2 ft. x 2 ft. hole in the right wing leading edge, and several stress cracks and skin delamination on the top and bottom surfaces of the wing. The tail wheel was severed from the fuselage and bent. He said, "wing spar damage and internal fuselage damage were likely." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N991JB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N991JB-2013-06-27), registration cancelled 2013-06-27, S/N 101901, built 1983 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Centrair 101C - Registry model: [Centrair 101C](https://openairdocs.org/model/centrair-101c) (registry code 1990105) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider - Serial number: 101901 - Airframe hours: 1074 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Frank A. McVay - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 2007 - Departed: ALM, Alamogordo, NM - Destination: ALM - Airport: ALM, White Sands Regional ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 1, 2005; seat: single; flight hours: 358 total, 11 in this make and model, 316 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F ## 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 20070512020199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070512020199A), May 12, 2007: Cntrar 101CCENTR, Alamogordo, NM, Substantial damage. (-23) On 05/12/07 approximately 2:15 pm, MST, a centrair 101C (N991JB) registered to and operated by the pilot [privacy data omitted] sustained substantial… ## Other investigations on N991JB (1) 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. - [NTSB FTW97LA201](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA201), May 25, 1997: Centrair 101C (N991JB), Santa Fe, NM, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's improper planning/decison. Factors relating to the accident were: lack of thermal lift, which resulted in an off-airport landing, and the lack of suitable terrain for the landing. 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.