# NTSB ERA26LA311: HPH Glasflugel 304CZ, N304BS, Xenia, OH, August 21, 2026

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: August 21, 2026, 16:07 local (20:07 UTC)
- Place: Xenia, OH
- Coordinates: 39.67125, -83.894453 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.6713&lon=-83.8945&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: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 1, 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): 203645
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA26LA311
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203645/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203645
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA311

## Probable cause

The glider’s encounter with atmospheric conditions where lift was not sufficient to maintain flight.

## 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: [HPH GLASFLUGEL 304CZ, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031040/cases.md?model=05606KP), [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: [HPH GLASFLUGEL 304CZ, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=05606KP), [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: [HPH GLASFLUGEL 304CZ, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md?model=05606KP), [All aircraft, 252 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md)
- [Enroute: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [HPH GLASFLUGEL 304CZ, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=05606KP), [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: [HPH GLASFLUGEL 304CZ, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05606KP), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot of the glider was on a local flight and reported that the thermal lift began to dissipate. Upon reaching about 1,000 ft above ground level, he found a field for an off-airport landing. During the subsequent landing, the glider’s left wing struck an undulation in the terrain, which resulted in the right wing lifting and the nose of the glider impacting the ground. The glider’s empennage separated from the fuselage and was substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the glider that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N304BS](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N304BS), registered now, S/N 27, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HPH LTD GLASFLUGEL 304CZ
- Registry model: [HPH GLASFLUGEL 304CZ](https://openairdocs.org/model/hph-glasflugel-304cz) (registry code 05606KP) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Glider
- Serial number: 27
- Year built: 2000
- Airframe hours: 784
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 19, 2026
- Departed: 2OH9, Waynesville, OH
- Equipment: Satellite tracking device, ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 69; injuries: none; commercial, private, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 14, 2026; seat: single; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,367 total, 78 in this make and model, 1,222 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 90° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observed at: MGY, 14 nm away
- METAR: METAR KMGY 211953Z AUTO 09005KT 10SM CLR 28/19 A3003 RMK AO2 SLP160 T02830194

## 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 20260821011809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260821011809A), Aug 21, 2026: Hph Ltd GLASFLUGEL 304CZ, Jamestown, OH, Substantial damage. Departed 20H9 at 13:35 with the intention of landing back at 20H9. Gates opened at 15:35. Made first turn point and started toward second turn point. The day…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 1, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203645. 2.0 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20892764&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120.1%20Completed%20Print_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Investigation photographs (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 299 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20893400&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20ERA26LA311-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.