# NTSB ERA22LA367: Vickers-Slingsby T65A, N157HH, Butler, GA, July 16, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: July 16, 2022, 14:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place: Butler, GA · On Airport
- Coordinates: 32.568236, -84.246687
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.5682&lon=-84.2467&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 105719
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA22LA367
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105719/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105719
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA367

## Probable cause

The pilot’s retraction the landing gear just prior to touchdown on the runway.

## Findings

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

- [Landing gear system: main landing gear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Vickers-Slingsby T65A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210/cases.md?model=9480104), [All aircraft, 241 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210/cases.md)
- [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Vickers-Slingsby T65A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=9480104), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Landing: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) (defining event); cases with it: [Vickers-Slingsby T65A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=9480104), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md)

## Analysis

Just before touching down to land, the pilot could not remember if he extended the landing gear. He said he then grabbed the gear handle (which was in the down position) and retracted the gear. The glider landed gear up and bounced, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage, tail boom, and tail section.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N157HH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N157HH-2024-01-13), registration cancelled 2024-01-13, S/N 1894 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: VICKERS-SLINGSBY T65A
- Registry model: [Vickers-Slingsby T65A](https://openairdocs.org/model/vickers-slingsby-t65a) (registry code 9480104) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Glider
- Serial number: 1894
- Airframe hours: 986.5
- Engines: None none
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Unknown
- Last inspection: Annual, June 20, 2022
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: 6A1, Butler Muni, runway 19, 5,002 × 75 ft, grass/turf
- Equipment: Unknown

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 70; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 12, 2000; seat: center; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,171 total, 340 in this make and model, 1,066 as pilot in command, 23 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 68 °F
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observed at: K6A1
- METAR: METAR K6A1 161755Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 31/20 A3011

## 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 20220716022729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220716022729A), Jul 16, 2022: Vickers-Slingsby T65A, Bulter, GA, Substantial damage. On July 16, 2022, at approximately 1400 local time a pilot was flying a Vickers-Slingsby glider model T-65A, at Bulter municipal airport (6A1), in Bulter,…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 24, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105719. 2.1 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14592759&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20A_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 2 photos, 227 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14592242&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photos-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.

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