- Date
- May 4, 2014, 15:45 local (19:45 UTC)
- Place
- Monroe, GA
- Injuries
- 1 serious
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N777LRSchleicher ASW 20
- Defining event
- Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of lift
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 2, 2014
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- FAA report
- 20140504006009A
- Case key
- 89161
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 improper selection of an off-airport landing site and his subsequent failure to maintain clearance from trees during an off airport landing.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The glider pilot was practicing cross country maneuvers, but was forced to alter his destination due to weak lifting conditions encountered during the flight. According to the pilot, on his return leg to the departure airport he "started to get low" and began looking for an alternate landing site. While at 1,000 feet agl the pilot proceeded towards a farmer's field to initiate an off-field landing. The pilot stated that he may have initiated a brief turn at the last minute to search for another landing area, but could not recollect any additional events leading up to the accident. The glider impacted trees and subsequently came to rest on the ground about 100 yards south of a tree line. Post-accident examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the right wing and empennage section. The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the glider that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The glider pilot was practicing cross country maneuvers, but was forced to alter his destination due to weak lifting conditions encountered during the flight. According to the pilot, on his return leg to the departure airport he "started to get low" and began looking for an alternate landing site. While at 1,000 feet agl the pilot proceeded towards a farmer's field to initiate an off-field landing. The pilot stated that he may have initiated a brief turn at the last minute to search for another landing area, but could not recollect any additional events leading up to the accident. The glider impacted trees and subsequently came to rest on the ground about 100 yards south of a tree line. Post-accident examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the right wing and empennage section. The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the glider that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N777LR
- Reported as
- Schleicher ASW 20
- Category
- Glider
- Serial number
- 20269
- Built
- 1979
- Airframe hours
- 1,822
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Condition · October 20, 2013
- Departed
- D73 · Monroe, GA
- Destination
- D73 · Monroe, GA
- Airport
- D73 · Monroe-Walton County
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
- 56
- Injuries
- Serious
- Certificate
- Private
- Last flight review
- October 5, 2013
- Seat
- Single
- Restraint
- 4-point
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 290° at 11 knots, gusting 4
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 84 °F, dew point 23 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.04 inHg
- Observed at
- KWDR, 12 nm away
Docket · 5
The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 22, 2014, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 5.1 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.