# NTSB ERA25FA066: Schleicher ASW24, N244RW, Vero Beach, FL, December 6, 2024

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Class 3 · Field · Preliminary report
- Date: December 6, 2024, 12:40 local (17:40 UTC)
- Place: Vero Beach, FL
- Coordinates: 27.639386, -80.534611 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.6394&lon=-80.5346&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern downwind: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 199388
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA25FA066
- NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/199388/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25FA066

## Preliminary report

On December 6, 2024, about 1240 eastern standard time, a Schleicher ASW 24 glider, N244RW, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Vero Beach, Florida. The pilot was fatally injured. The glider was owned by a local soaring club and was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot was a seasonal member of the Treasure Coast Soaring Club based at New Hibiscus Airpark (X52), Vero Beach, FL. According to club members, the glider departed X52 about 1140 for a local flight. After about 1 hour, the glider approached the airport at about 1,000 ft above ground level (agl) to enter the left downwind leg of the traffic pattern for runway 36. They further reported that the glider appeared to get “too slow” as it approached the traffic pattern then entered a stall/spin. The glider recovered from the spin about 50 ft agl, then pitched up and entered a second stall/spin. The glider descended in a nose-down attitude and impacted a grass median between a divided highway about 1/2-mile northwest of X52. Members of the club further stated that the accident flight was the pilot’s first flight after recently completing his familiarization training in the high performance single-seat glider. The on-scene examination revealed the glider came to rest in an upright position near the center of the grass median, and all major components of the glider were accounted for at the accident site. The cockpit area was fragmented and displaced upward. The right wing was separated about midspan with aft deformation noted to the leading edge of the separation area. An impact scar was observed on the ground about 3 ft in front of the right wing. The tail section was fractured and displaced to the right. Impact damage was noted to the elevator and horizontal stabilizer. The right aileron control tube was fractured at the wing separation area. The elevator control rod remained attached to its aft attach point and was separated at the aft fuselage separation area. Flight control continuity was established to the cockpit area except where impact separations were located. The wreckage was retained for further examination.

## Sequence of events

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

- [Approach-VFR pattern downwind: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md)
- [Uncontrolled descent: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md)
- [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Aircraft

- Registration: N244RW (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: SCHLEICHER ASW24 (UNDESIGNATED SERIES)
- Category: Glider
- Serial number: 24010
- Year built: 1989
- Airframe hours: 1630
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Treasure Coast Soaring Club
- Registered owner: Treasure Coast Soaring Club
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, July 18, 2024
- Departed: X52, Vero Beach, FL
- Airport: X52, New Hibiscus Airpark
- Equipment: Data recorder, Angle of attack indicator

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 290° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Altimeter: 30.14 inHg
- Observed at: KVRB, 2 nm away
- METAR: KVRB 061753Z 29009KT 10SM CLR 26/10 A3014 RMK AO2 SLP206 T02610100 10261 20106 58017

## 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 20241206017979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20241206017979A), Dec 6, 2024: Schleicher ASW-24, Vero Beach, FL, Destroyed, 1 fatal. On 12/06/2024, the pilot was conducting glider operations at New Hibiscus Airpark (X52) in a schliecher ASW-24B aircraft. The aircraft was towed to 3000 ft AGL…

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.