- Date
- February 20, 2005, 14:45 local (20:45 UTC)
- Place
- Midlothian, TX
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N7569Schweizer SGS1-26B
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 28, 2005
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20050220003649A
- Case key
- 61050
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's misjudgment in distance/altitude and his failure to maintain clearance from a tree while on final to approach to landing. Contributing factors were the lack of thermal lift and the gusty wind conditions.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The 360-hour private pilot reported that he was unable to find any thermal lift to assist in gaining altitude to return to the gliderport. The pilot then selected a nearby open field suitable for landing. The pilot stated that while on final approach to the open field, he experienced gusty headwinds resulting in an "excessive sink rate." At an altitude of approximately 30 feet above ground level, the outer portion of the left wing struck the top of a tree. Subsequently, the glider nosed over and impacted the ground. The pilot stated that the wind at the time of the accident was from the southwest at approximately 15 knots, gusting to 20 knots.
Factual narrative
On February 20, 2005, approximately 1445 central standard time, a Schweizer SGS1-26B glider, N7569, registered to Texas Soaring Association (TSA) of Midlothian, Texas, and operated by the pilot, was substantially damaged when it impacted trees and the ground while on final approach to an off-airport landing area near Midlothian, Texas. The private pilot, sole occupant of the glider, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The local flight originated from the TSA Gliderport (TA11), near Midlothian, Texas, at an unknown time.
The 360-hour private pilot reported in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) that he was unable to find any thermal lift to assist in gaining altitude to return to TA11, and he elected to land on a nearby open field which he considered suitable for landing. The pilot stated that while on final approach to the open field, he experienced gusty headwinds resulting in an "excessive sink rate." While at an estimated altitude of 30 feet above ground level, the outer portion of the left wing struck the top of a 30-foot high tree. Subsequently, the glider nosed-over and impacted the ground, coming to rest in the upright position.
The pilot reported that at the time of the accident, the winds were from the southwest at approximately 15 knots, gusting to 20 knots.
Examination of the glider by an Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the tubular structure of the nose was crushed aft just forward of the instrument panel.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N7569
- Reported as
- Schweizer SGS1-26B
- Category
- Glider
- Serial number
- 469
- Airframe hours
- 2,414
- Engine
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Luron Jokisch
- Registered owner
- Texas Soaring Association
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 1, 2004
- Departed
- Midlothian, TX
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 78
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Last flight review
- June 6, 2003
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 360 total · 360 in this make and model · 2 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 200° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.