# NTSB ERA26LA199: Alexander Schleicher ASW 27-18, N27CU, Greenwood, SC, April 20, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: April 20, 2026, 14:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Greenwood, SC · open field - Coordinates: 34.130794, -82.162831 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1308&lon=-82.1628&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 17, 2026 - 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): 202950 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA26LA199 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202950/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202950 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA199 ## Probable cause The glider pilot’s encounter with a strong sink/loss of lift, which resulted in a forced landing to unsuitable terrain. ## 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 · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Alexander Schleicher ASW 27-18, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031040/cases.md?model=3801538), [All aircraft, 53 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031040/cases.md) - [Wind: downdraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Alexander Schleicher ASW 27-18, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035/cases.md?model=3801538), [All aircraft, 178 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035/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: [Alexander Schleicher ASW 27-18, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=3801538), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Terrain: sloped/uneven terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Alexander Schleicher ASW 27-18, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md?model=3801538), [All aircraft, 270 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500) (defining event); cases with it: [Alexander Schleicher ASW 27-18, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md?model=3801538), [All aircraft, 252 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Alexander Schleicher ASW 27-18, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=3801538), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Alexander Schleicher ASW 27-18, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=3801538), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The glider pilot reported that he was participating in a racing competition. He was able to find thermals up to 7,000 ft mean sea level (msl) and later could not climb higher than 4,500 ft msl. At that time, the glider was about 20 miles from his intended destination, which the pilot thought he could reach; however, the glider subsequently encountered a strong sink, and he could not find any more thermals. Unable to glide to an airport, he attempted a forced landing to a field. During the forced landing, the left wing contacted a swale in the middle of the field. The glider spun, the tailboom also contacted the swale and separated, and the glider came to rest upright. The pilot also reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the glider that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N27CU](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N27CU), registered now, S/N 29058 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ALEXANDER SCHLEICHER GMBH & CO ASW 27-18 - Registry model: [Alexander Schleicher ASW 27-18](https://openairdocs.org/model/alexander-schleicher-asw-27-18) (registry code 3801538) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider - Serial number: 29058 - Year built: 2010 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: SC95, Perry, SC - Equipment: Data recorder ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 73; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 5, 2025; seat: single; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,933 total, 1,171 in this make and model, 39 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 30.24 inHg - Observed at: GRD, 7 nm away - METAR: METAR KGRD 201856Z AUTO 10SM CLR 22/01 A3024 RMK AO2 SLP238 T02220006 ## 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 20260420006739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260420006739A), Apr 20, 2026: Alexander Schleicher Gmbh & Co ASW 27-18, Greenwood, SC, Substantial damage. The glider pilot reported that he was participating in a racing competition. He was able to find thermals up to 7,000 ft mean sea level (MSL) and later could… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 17, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202950. 5.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 5.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20347002&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigation photograph (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 2 photos, 213 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20347577&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photograph-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.