# NTSB ERA19LA260: DG Flugzeugbau DG-500MB, N165MB, Robertsdale, AL, August 24, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 24, 2019, 15:40 local (20:40 UTC) - Place: Robertsdale, AL - Coordinates: 30.543611, -87.555831 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.5436&lon=-87.5558&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 100149 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA19LA260 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100149/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100149 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA19LA260 ## Probable cause Impact with trees during the landing approach for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information. ## 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: [Dg-Flugzeugbau DG-500MB, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=3802554), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Dg-Flugzeugbau DG-500MB, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=3802554), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) (defining event); cases with it: [Dg-Flugzeugbau DG-500MB, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=3802554), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot and passenger onboard the glider could not recall the events of the accident flight due to their injuries, and there were no witnesses to the accident. The glider was found substantially damaged among trees east of the runway. The landing gear and airbrakes were found in the extended positions, and the engine and propeller were stowed. An examination of the wreckage did not reveal evidence of a mechanical malfunction or anomaly that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On August 24, 2019, about 1540 central daylight time, a DG-Flugzeugbau DG-500MB glider, N165MB, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Robertsdale, Alabama. The private pilot and one passenger sustained serious injuries. The glider was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the Federal Aviation Administration inspector who responded to the accident site, the glider was found in a wooded area past the departure end of runway 9 at Elsanor Airport (1AL4), Robertsdale, Alabama. The turf runway was 2,400 ft in length. The right wing was separated from the airframe and the left wing remained attached. The empennage was separated from contact with trees. The engine and propeller were in their stowed positions inside the aft fuselage. Neither the pilot nor the passenger could recall the accident due to their injuries. There were no known witnesses to the accident. An examination of the wreckage at a recovery facility revealed continuity to all flight controls. The landing gear and airbrakes were in the extended positions. The glider was equipped with a LX7000 gliding computer and GPS navigation system; examination of the unit revealed no recorded data from the accident flight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N165MB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N165MB-2020-03-02), registration cancelled 2020-03-02, S/N 5E247B23, built 2005 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: DG Flugzeugbau DG-500MB - Registry model: [Dg-Flugzeugbau DG-500MB](https://openairdocs.org/model/dg-flugzeugbau-dg-500mb) (registry code 3802554) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Solo 2625 02](https://openairdocs.org/engine/solo-2625-02) (registry code 58111, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider - Serial number: 5E247B23 - Year built: 2005 - Airframe hours: 11 - Engines: Solo Solo 2625 02 64 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, June 18, 2019, 2 hours before - Departed: 1AL4, Robertsdale, AL - Destination: 1AL4, Robertsdale, AL - Airport: 1AL4, Elsanor Airport, runway 09, 2,400 × 100 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: serious; private; last flight review August 24, 2019; seat: front; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 542 total, 1.5 in this make and model, 14.5 in the last 90 days, 1.5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 75 °F - Altimeter: 29.93 inHg - Observed at: PNS, 20 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 20190824011999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190824011999A), Aug 24, 2019: Dg-Flugzeugbau Gmbh DG-500MB, Elsanor, AL, Substantial damage. Glider on approach to landing overshot grass runway fifty feet into tree line at end of runway destroying aircraft. Pilot sustained serious injuries and the… ## Docket (10 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 23, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100149. 16.9 MB in all. - Insurance company pilot report (item 1, PDF, 2 pages, 305 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9912857&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=1%20AIG%20Pilot%20Report_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 196 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9917763&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - NTSB memorandum for record pryor (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 262 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9916285&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Memorandum%20for%20Record%20Pryor-Rel.pdf - Excerpts - pilot logbook (item 4, PDF, 4 pages, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9913561&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=2%20Excerpts%20-%20Pilot%20Logbook_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Excerpts - maintenance logbook (item 5, PDF, 3 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9913359&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=3%20Excerpts%20-%20Maintenance%20Logbook_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 6, PDF, 8 pages, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9912479&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=4a%20Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf - Wreckage diagram (item 7, PDF, 1 page, 8.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9913745&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=4b%20Wreckage%20Diagram-Rel.pdf - Wreckage examination (item 8, PDF, 2 pages, 454 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9913455&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=4c%20Wreckage%20Examination-Rel.pdf - Recorded flight data report (item 9, PDF, 2 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9913464&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=5%20Recorders%20Lab%20Report-Rel.pdf - Evidence control form (item 10, PDF, 1 page, 679 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9961225&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Evidence%20Control-Rel.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.