# NTSB ERA11CA381: Schleicher ASW-28, N41ZX, Hugguenot, NY, July 5, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 5, 2011, 16:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Hugguenot, NY - Coordinates: 41.405555, -74.635276 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.4056&lon=-74.6353&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Landing area overshoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report October 20, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 81007 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA11CA381 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/81007/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81007 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11CA381 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to attain the proper touchdown point during a tailwind landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: expectation/assumption](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041525): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 51 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041525/cases.md) - [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Landing area overshoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 400 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot he experienced a loss of lift while soaring and performed an off-field landing to a field that was surrounded by powerlines and trees. He said that he landed further down the field than anticipated and the glider overran the runway, impacted a fence, crossed a road, and impacted another fence, causing substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot further reported that the flight log revealed a tailwind of approximately 13 knots on the final leg of the approach, and stated that there was no mechanical malfunction with the glider. ## Factual narrative The pilot of the glider reported that about 2 hours 30 minutes into the flight, he was unable to locate a thermal and began losing lift. He located a field that he felt was long and wide enough to land in; however, the field was surrounded by powerlines and trees. He elected to conduct his approach from the southwest over the tree line. During the landing flare, he landed further down the field than anticipated; the glider overran the runway, impacted a fence, crossed a road, and impacted another fence, causing substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot further reported that the flight log revealed a tailwind of approximately 13 knots on the final leg of the approach, and stated that there was no mechanical malfunction with the glider. ## Aircraft - Registration: N41ZX (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: SCHLEICHER ASW-28 - Category: Glider - Serial number: 28010 - Airframe hours: 561 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Unknown - Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 2011 - Departed: N82, Wurstboro, NY - Destination: N82, Wurstboro, NY ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: minor; private; last flight review July 26, 2009; seat: single; flight hours: 267 total, 13 in this make and model, 22 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 29.92 inHg - Observed at: KFWN, 12 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 20110705015639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110705015639A), Jul 5, 2011: Schleicher ASW-28, Huguenot, NY, Substantial damage. After losing updrafts ,pilot elected to land in an open field. Pilot stated he turned base and final to close, which resulted in an un stabilized approach.… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 24, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81007. 379 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 290 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40351258&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Weather (item 2, .PDF, 89 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40351259&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather-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.