# NTSB ERA15LA367: Schleicher ASW 19B, N27XX, Saratoga Springs, NY, September 19, 2015

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 19, 2015, 14:09 local (18:09 UTC)
- Place: Saratoga Springs, NY
- Coordinates: 43.050834, -73.861663 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.0508&lon=-73.8617&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report July 26, 2017
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA-FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 92026
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA15LA367
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/92026/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92026
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15LA367

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain glider control while attempting to land.

## Findings

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

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Schleicher ASW-19B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=3801505), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Schleicher ASW-19B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=3801505), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Schleicher ASW-19B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=3801505), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)
- [Uncontrolled descent: 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 private pilot was attempting to land the glider. A witness described the glider's initial approach to the runway as "high and fast" and noted that the landing gear and spoilers were retracted. He added that the glider flew about halfway down the runway, climbed, turned right, and banked steeply before making a left "teardrop" turn. The glider then flew down the runway in the opposite direction. The landing gear extended and retracted at least once during the turn. The glider made a second low pass over the runway at an "excessive" speed but did not land. The glider then entered another climb and made a very steep descending left turn, and the left wing struck the ground followed by the nose. Data extracted from a GPS found in the wreckage were consistent with the witness's observations. The pilot was seriously injured and could not remember the accident sequence of events. Postaccident examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical deficiencies that would have precluded normal operation of the glider.

## Factual narrative

On September 19, 2015, about 1409 eastern daylight time, a Schleicher ASW 19B glider, N27XX, was destroyed when it collided with terrain while attempting to land at Saratoga County Airport (5B2), Saratoga, New York. The private pilot was seriously injured. The glider was registered to and operated by the pilot as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions were reported and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. The flight originated at 5B2 about 1338.A designated pilot examiner for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) was at the airport and witnessed the accident. He stated that he first observed the glider when it was on final approach for runway 32. The glider was "high and fast," and the landing gear and spoilers were retracted. He said the glider flew about halfway down the runway, climbed, turned right. It then banked steeply, made a left "teardrop" turn, and flew down the runway in the opposite direction. The witness never saw the spoilers extend, but the landing gear did extend and retract at least once during the turn. The glider made a second low pass (below 100 ft) over the runway at an "excessive" speed, but did not land. The witness said the glider entered another climb, made a very steep left turn, and nearly missed colliding with a building. The glider descended while in the turn and the left wing struck the ground followed by the nose. The witness said, "To summarize, the glider basically flew from a starting altitude of less than 50 ft, made nearly two complete teardrop course reversals. The left wing struck the ground before completing the second. During this time, possibly as much as two minutes, the gear was extended and retracted at least once but I did not see the spoilers extend." The pilot stated that he did not remember the accident flight. Data contained in a FlyWithCE GPS found in the wreckage was consistent with the witness's statement. The data, which included latitude/longitude, altitude, and groundspeed, began recording at 1338:32 when the glider departed runway 32 and ended at 1409:10. After departure, the glider performed several turning maneuvers away from the airport before returning to land. When the airplane arrived back at the airport, it flew downwind for runway 32 before turning onto final approach. At 1407:53, at a groundspeed of 154 knots, the glider flew about halfway down runway 32, before making a right turn followed by a steep left turn back down the runway, but in the opposite direction. At 1408:53, at a groundspeed of 80 knots, the glider entered a descending left turn before the data ended at 1409:10. Postaccident examination of the wreckage by an FAA inspector revealed that glider cart-wheeled and came to rest on the right side of the final approach path of runway 32, resulting in extensive impact damage to the glider's wings and fuselage. The landing gear and spoilers were retracted. No mechanical deficiencies were noted that would haveprecluded normal operation of the glider prior to the accident. The pilot held a private pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine land, airplane single-engine sea, and glider. The pilot reported a total of 310 hours of flight experience; of which 145 hours were in gliders, and 56 hours was in the same make/model as the accident glider. The pilot was not required to have an FAA-issued medical certificate to operate a glider. Weather reported at Albany International Airport (ALB), Albany, New York, at 1351, located about 18 miles south of 5B2, included wind from 170 degrees at 11 knots gusting to 17 knots, visibility 10 miles, few clouds at 11,000 ft, scattered clouds at 23,000 and 28,000 ft, temperature 27 degrees C, dewpoint 14 degrees C, and a barometric altimeter setting of 29.87 inches of mercury.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N27XX](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N27XX-2018-05-30), registration cancelled 2018-05-30, S/N 19356, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SCHLEICHER ASW 19B (B)
- 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: 19356
- Year built: 1981
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: 5B2, Saratoga Springs, NY
- Destination: 5B2, Saratoga Springs, NY
- Airport: 5B2, Saratoga County, runway 32, 4,000 × 100 ft, concrete
- Equipment: Handheld GPS, Data recorder

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 66; injuries: serious; sport pilot, private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; last flight review April 25, 2015; seat: center; flight hours: 310 total, 56 in this make and model, 240 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 170° at 11 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observed at: ALB, 18 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 20150919022749A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150919022749A), Sep 19, 2015: Schleicher ASW-19B, Ballston Spa, NY, Substantial damage. An approach and landing was being made to runway 32 at 5B2. The glider approached at at higher than appropriate angle and airspeed in a clean configuration…

## Docket (8 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 7, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92026. 5.3 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40452938&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 60 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40452939&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF
- Written Statement - Witness (item 3, .PDF, 37 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40452940&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Written%20Statement%20-%20Witness-Master.PDF
- Record of Conversation - FAA Inspector (item 4, .PDF, 61 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40452941&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20FAA%20Inspector-Master.PDF
- Photos (Courtesy of FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 2 photos, 237 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40452942&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF
- GPS Factual Report (item 6, .PDF, 3.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40452943&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=GPS%20Factual%20Report-Master.PDF
- GPS Factual Report - Attachment 1 (item 7, .CSV, 41 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40452944&FileExtension=.csv&FileName=GPS%20Factual%20Report%20-%20Attachment%201-Master.csv
- Evidence Control Form (item 8, .PDF, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40452945&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Evidence%20Control%20Form-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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