# NTSB ERA22LA388: Schleicher K7, N107AS, Mayville, NY, August 27, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: August 27, 2022, 13:15 local (17:15 UTC)
- Place: Mayville, NY
- Coordinates: 42.268113, -79.481713 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.2681&lon=-79.4817&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute: Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- 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): 105809
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA22LA388
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105809/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105809
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA388

## Probable cause

The glider’s encounter with atmospheric conditions where the lift was not sufficient to maintain flight, which resulted in an off-airport landing.

## Findings

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

- [Temp/humidity/pressure: thermal lifting](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 53 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031040/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: [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.

- [Enroute: Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 252 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that, during the return flight to the airport, the glider encountered more downdrafts than he expected, and that the glider did not have sufficient altitude to reach the airport. During the subsequent forced landing into trees and shrubby, the glider’s fuselage and wings sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures of the glider that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N107AS (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: SCHLEICHER K7
- Category: Glider
- Serial number: 7038
- Year built: 1962
- Airframe hours: 3868
- Engines: None none
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Aero Journey
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 4, 2022
- Departed: D79, Mayville, NY
- Airport: D79, Dart Airport

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 56; injuries: none; private; last flight review September 20, 2020; seat: rear; restraint: 4-point

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observed at: JHW, 13 nm away
- METAR: KJHW 271656Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 21/13 A3015 RMK AO2 SLP206 T02060133

## 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 20220827019939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220827019939A), Aug 27, 2022: Schleicher Alexander K 7, Mayville, NY, Substantial damage. Pilot stated that on his return to the airport (D79) he was unable to maintain sufficient altitude due to a lack of up lift in the area. He decided to land in…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 6, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105809. 5.9 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 654 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14460804&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120-era22la388_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 180 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14445255&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Grijalva_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Investigative photographs (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 5.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14453087&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-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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