# NTSB ERA14CA453: Schleicher ASK 21, N421SL, Wurtsboro, NY, September 20, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 20, 2014, 16:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Wurtsboro, NY - Coordinates: 41.597221, -74.458335 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5972&lon=-74.4583&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report December 15, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 90145 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA14CA453 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90145/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90145 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14CA453 ## Probable cause A loss of lift during the landing approach, which resulted in impact with terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Wind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034000): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Schleicher ASK-21, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034000/cases.md?model=38015GY), [All aircraft, 110 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034000/cases.md) - [Terrain: sloped/uneven terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Schleicher ASK-21, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md?model=38015GY), [All aircraft, 270 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/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 ASK-21, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=38015GY), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/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: Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500) (defining event); cases with it: [Schleicher ASK-21, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md?model=38015GY), [All aircraft, 252 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Schleicher ASK-21, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=38015GY), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis During his first flight of the day, the pilot of the glider experienced windy conditions and sinking air in the vicinity of the airport. He subsequently departed on a solo flight, flew for about 15 minutes, and then entered the airport traffic pattern for landing. To compensate for wind, he conducted the downwind leg of the traffic pattern at a higher speed, and entered the base leg early. On final approach for landing, the glider experienced a loss of lift and "rapid" loss of altitude, and landed short of the runway in an uneven area of vegetation, resulting in substantial damage to the forward fuselage. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative During his first flight of the day, the pilot of the glider experienced windy conditions and sinking air in the vicinity of the airport. He subsequently departed on a solo flight, flew for about 15 minutes, and then entered the airport traffic pattern for landing. To compensate for wind, he conducted the downwind leg of the traffic pattern at a higher speed, and entered the base leg early. On final approach for landing, the glider experienced a loss of lift and "rapid" loss of altitude, and landed short of the runway in an uneven area of vegetation, resulting in substantial damage to the forward fuselage. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N421SL](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N421SL), registered now, S/N 21808, built 2006 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SCHLEICHER ASK 21 (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Schleicher ASK-21](https://openairdocs.org/model/schleicher-ask-21) (registry code 38015GY) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider - Serial number: 21808 - Year built: 2006 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Waco Transport Business Trust - Registered owner: Waco Transport Business Trust - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: N82, Wurtsboro, NY - Destination: N82, Wurtsboro, NY - Airport: N82, Wurtsboro-Sullivan County ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: minor; sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; last flight review April 26, 2013; seat: front; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 67 total, 10 in this make and model, 15 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: KMGJ, 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 20140920017749A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140920017749A), Sep 20, 2014: Schleicher ASK-21, Wurtzboro, NY, Substantial damage. Student pilot on first solo, undershot runway on approach and crashed short of the runway ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 3, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90145. 1.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 804 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40419624&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1 - Wreckage (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 876 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40419625&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Wreckage%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%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.