# NTSB ERA14CA426: Schleicher ASW 19B, N31GF, Avoca, NY, September 7, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 7, 2014, 16:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Avoca, NY - Coordinates: 42.410278, -77.425552 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.4103&lon=-77.4256&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report October 9, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 90040 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA14CA426 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90040/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90040 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14CA426 ## Probable cause The pilot's decision to attempt a return to his departure airport which resulted in the glider's encounter with atmospheric conditions where the lift was not sufficient to maintain flight and an off-airport landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Schleicher ASW-19B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=3801505), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Schleicher ASW-19B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=3801505), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Terrain: rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Schleicher ASW-19B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md?model=3801505), [All aircraft, 442 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md) - [Environmental issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03030000): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [Schleicher ASW-19B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03030000/cases.md?model=3801505), [All aircraft, 57 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03030000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500) (defining event); cases with it: [Schleicher ASW-19B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md?model=3801505), [All aircraft, 252 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Schleicher ASW-19B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=3801505), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Schleicher ASW-19B, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=3801505), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The glider pilot stated that when he reached his intended destination, lift increased and he decided to fly back to the departure airport. As the glider flew closer to the departure airport, the lift decreased and the glider was about 800 feet above ground level, approximately 10 miles away from the departure airport. The pilot was unable to locate another airport and elected to land in a field. While on final approach for the field, the pilot observed a small hill prior to the field and turned left to avoid a straight-on collision. The left wing subsequently struck the hill and the glider came to rest upright in the field. The pilot added that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the glider. Examination of the glider by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed damage to the left wing, forward fuselage, and tailcone. ## Factual narrative The glider pilot stated that when he reached his intended destination, lift increased and he decided to fly back to the departure airport. As the glider flew closer to the departure airport, the lift decreased and the glider was about 800 feet above ground level, approximately 10 miles away from the departure airport. The pilot was unable to locate another airport and elected to land in a field. While on final approach for the field, the pilot observed a small hill prior to the field and turned left to avoid a straight-on collision. The left wing subsequently struck the hill and the glider came to rest upright in the field. The pilot added that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the glider. Examination of the glider by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed damage to the left wing, forward fuselage, and tailcone. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N31GF](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N31GF), registered now, S/N 19386, built 1983 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SCHLEICHER ASW 19B - Registry model: [Schleicher ASW-19B](https://openairdocs.org/model/schleicher-asw-19b) (registry code 3801505) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider - Serial number: 19386 - Year built: 1983 - Airframe hours: 959 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 28, 2014 - Departed: DSV, Dansville, NY - Destination: 7N1, Corning, NY - Equipment: Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; injuries: serious; commercial; last flight review July 12, 2014; seat: single; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 296 total, 32 in this make and model, 98 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 30.18 inHg - Observed at: DSV, 10 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 20140907016109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140907016109A), Sep 7, 2014: Schleicher ASW-19B, Avoca, NY, Substantial damage. On 9/7/2014 at approximately 1630 EDT aircraft N31GF, a Schleicher glider model ASW-19B, made an unplanned off-field landing in Avoca, NY. The aircraft… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 30, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90040. 1.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 791 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40417059&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Weather Report (item 2, .PDF, 74 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40417060&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Report-Master.PDF - Photo 1 – Glider as it Came to Rest (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 348 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40417061&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20%E2%80%93%20Glider%20as%20it%20Came%20to%20Rest%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)%0D%0A-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.