# NTSB ERA09CA259: Rolladen-Schneider LS8-18, N818FM, Fairfield, PA, April 23, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 23, 2009, 09:58 local (13:58 UTC) - Place: Fairfield, PA - Coordinates: 39.754165, -77.350555 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7542&lon=-77.3506&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report July 28, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 73714 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA09CA259 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73714/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73714 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09CA259 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed while turning on to final approach, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Rolladen-Schneider LS8-18, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=3801267), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Rolladen-Schneider LS8-18, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=3801267), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Rolladen-Schneider LS8-18, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=3801267), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Rolladen-Schneider LS8-18, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=3801267), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Rolladen-Schneider LS8-18, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=3801267), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to witnesses, the glider was towed toward the mountains west of the airport, where the cable was released. The glider circled for about 10 minutes, but failed to gain lift. The glider proceeded to the south end of the airport, where it continued to circle and lose altitude. Approximately 400 yards short of the approach end of Runway 33, the glider made a steep left turn to enter the final approach, when it "suddenly snapped 90 degrees, wings vertical, then nosed into the ground." The tow pilot stated that the area where the accident occurred was known for its turbulent conditions. Winds at the time were recorded at an airport 18 miles to the west, from 290 degrees at 21 knots, gusting to 24 knots. The pilot was sent an NTSB Form 6120.1, Pilot/Operator report, but had not completed it at the time of this report. ## Factual narrative The pilot of the glider sustained serious injuries when, according to witnesses, the glider was towed toward the mountains west of the airport, where the cable was released. The glider circled for about 10 minutes, but failed to gain lift. The glider proceeded to the south end of the airport, where it continued to circle and lose altitude. Approximately 400 yards short of the approach end of runway 33, the glider made a steep left turn to enter the final approach, when it "suddenly snapped 90 degrees, wings vertical, then nosed into the ground." The tow pilot stated the area where the accident occurred was known for its turbulent conditions. Winds at the time were recorded at an airport 18 miles to the west, from 290 degrees at 21 knots, gusting to 24 knots. The pilot was sent an NTSB Form 6120.1, Pilot/Operator report, but had not completed it at the time of this report. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N818FM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N818FM-2018-01-29), registration cancelled 2018-01-29, S/N 8394, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ROLLADEN-SCHNEIDER LS8-18 - Registry model: [Rolladen-Schneider LS8-18](https://openairdocs.org/model/rolladen-schneider-ls8-18) (registry code 3801267) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider - Serial number: 8394 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Mueller Frederick Karl - Registered owner: Mueller Frederick Karl - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: W73, Fairfield, PA - Destination: W73, Fairfield, PA - Airport: W73, Mid Atlantic Soaring Center, runway 33, 2,700 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: serious; flight engineer, commercial, private, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 14, 2009; seat: single; flight hours: 10,400 total, 100 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 21 knots, gusting 24 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: HGR, 18 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 20090423009309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090423009309A), Apr 23, 2009: Rolsch LS818, Fairfield, PA, Destroyed. (-23) The pilot was participating in his first group event after several months of glider inactivity. [privacy data omitted] Was the first of four gliders… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 1, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73714. 1.3 MB in all. - Record of Telephone Conversation (item 1, .PDF, 32 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40313078&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Telephone%20Conversation-Redacted.PDF - Witness Statement - Jackson (item 2, .PDF, 288 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40313029&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement%20-%20Jackson-Redacted.PDF - Witness Statement - Harn (item 3, .PDF, 168 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40313074&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement%20-%20Harn-Redacted.PDF - Weather (item 4, .PDF, 98 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40313022&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather-Master.PDF - Photo- Wing and Fuselage Damage (Provided by FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 356 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40313020&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo-%20Wing%20and%20Fuselage%20Damage%20(Provided%20by%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo-Cockpit Damage (Provided by FAA) (item 6, .PDF, 364 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40313021&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo-Cockpit%20Damage%20(Provided%20by%20FAA)-Master.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.