# NTSB ERA10CA291: Schweizer SGS 1-36, N36204, Jacksonville, FL, May 28, 2010

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: May 28, 2010, 15:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place: Jacksonville, FL
- Coordinates: 30.21861, -81.876663 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.2186&lon=-81.8767&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering: Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report December 20, 2010
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 76154
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA10CA291
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76154/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76154
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10CA291

## Probable cause

The glider pilot’s delayed decision to divert following a loss of thermal lift.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Schweizer SGS 1-36, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=8050153), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md)
- [Temp/humidity/pressure: thermal lifting](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Schweizer SGS 1-36, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031040/cases.md?model=8050153), [All aircraft, 53 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Maneuvering: Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500) (defining event); cases with it: [Schweizer SGS 1-36, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md?model=8050153), [All aircraft, 252 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Landing area undershoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370); cases with it: [Schweizer SGS 1-36, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370/sequence.md?model=8050153), [All aircraft, 201 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot stated that his glider was towed to 3,000 feet above ground level (AGL) for a local soaring flight. He climbed the glider to 6,000 feet in a training area about 13 miles from the departure airport, where he "encountered sink." The pilot then obtained a landing clearance at an airport about 8 miles from his position, but the glider continued to sink, and struck an airport perimeter fence short of the landing runway. The off-airport landing resulted in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage structures. According to the glider's Pilot Operating Manual, the maximum glide ratio at maximum gross weight was 31:1. The pilot reported there were no pre-accident mechanical malfunctions or failures of the glider.

## Factual narrative

The pilot stated that his glider was towed to 3,000 feet above ground level (AGL) for a local soaring flight. He climbed the glider to 6,000 feet in a training area about 13 miles from the departure airport, where he "encountered sink." The pilot then obtained a landing clearance at an airport about 8 miles from his position, but the glider continued to sink, and struck an airport perimeter fence short of the landing runway. The off-airport landing resulted in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage structures. According to the glider's Pilot Operating Manual, the maximum glide ratio at maximum gross weight was 31:1. The pilot reported there were no pre-accident mechanical malfunctions or failures of the glider.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N36204](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N36204), registered now, S/N 35 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SCHWEIZER SGS 1-36
- Registry model: [Schweizer SGS 1-36](https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-sgs-1-36) (registry code 8050153) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Glider
- Serial number: 35
- Airframe hours: 1362
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Nfss Inc
- Registered owner: Nfss Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 6, 2010
- Departed: HEG, Jacksonville, FL
- Destination: HEG, Jacksonville, FL
- Airport: KVQQ, Cecil Field Airport, runway 09L, 8,002 × 200 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 51; injuries: minor; private, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 3, 2009; seat: single; flight hours: 1,069 total, 60 in this make and model, 923 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 90° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 29.78 inHg
- Observed at: KVQQ

## 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 20100528038049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100528038049A), May 28, 2010: Schweizer SGS 1-36, Jacksonville, FL, Substantial damage. On may 28, 2010 at approximately 1515 EDT, Schweizer, sgs 1-36 glider registration number N36204, s/n 35, piloted by robert c hartwig was on decent to heg in…

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 21, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76154. 624 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 426 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40332068&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Memorandum for Record: Pilot Phone Interview (item 2, .PDF, 47 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40332169&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%3A%20Pilot%20Phone%20Interview-Redacted.PDF
- Statement of Air Traffic Controller (item 3, .PDF, 70 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40332098&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20Air%20Traffic%20Controller-Redacted.PDF
- Extracted Pages from Pilot's Operating Manual (item 4, .PDF, 81 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40331022&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Extracted%20Pages%20from%20Pilot%27s%20Operating%20Manual-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.

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