# NTSB FTW02LA219: Schempp-Hirth K.G. Nimbus-2C, N141SF, Briggs, TX, July 21, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 21, 2002, 17:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Briggs, TX - Coordinates: 30.856111, -97.945831 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.8561&lon=-97.9458&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 1, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 55328 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW02LA219 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55328/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55328 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW02LA219 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to maintain clearance with the high grass during the landing roll, which resulted in a ground loop. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - high vegetation - terrain condition - grass - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command ## Analysis During the landing roll, on 300-foot wide grass airstrip, the right wing of the glider dropped and struck the tall grass adjacent to the runway. Subsequently, the glider ground-looped and came to rest on a 340 degree magnetic heading. The tailboom was fractured at the leading edge of the stabilizer. The pilot stated the wind was approximately 3 to 5 knots from the south. The wing span of the glider was approximately 66 feet. ## Factual narrative On July 21, 2002, approximately 1730 central daylight time, a Schempp-Hirth K.G. Nimbus-2C glider, N141SF, sustained substantial damaged when it encountered high vegetation during the landing roll on a grass airstrip at the private FLF Gliderport, Briggs, Texas. The commercial pilot, sole occupant and registered owner of the glider, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The local flight departed the FLF Gliderport, approximately 1310. According to the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), the pilot reported that he had completed a 4.3 hour flight. During the landing roll on runway 16 (4,500 feet in length and 300 feet in width), the right wing dropped and struck the tall grass adjacent to the runway. Subsequently, the glider ground-looped and came to rest on a 340 degree magnetic heading. The tailboom was fractured at the leading edge of the stabilizer. The pilot stated the wind was approximately 3 to 5 knots from the south. In the NTSB Form 6120.1/2 "Recommendation (How Could This Have Been Prevented)" section, the pilot reported the following, "1. Avoid tall grass on landing, 2. Make wheel landing with sufficient airspeed margin to allow selection of negative flap position to retain aileron authority as long as possible on roll out." The wing span of the glider was approximately 66 feet. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N141SF](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N141SF), registered now, S/N 220 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Schempp-Hirth K.G. Nimbus-2C - Registry model: [Schempp-Hirth K.G. NIMBUS-2C](https://openairdocs.org/model/schempp-hirth-k-g-nimbus-2c) (registry code 3801923) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider - Serial number: 220 - Airframe hours: 1029.7 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: George W. P. Reinhart - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, March 16, 2002, 21.4 hours before - Departed: TX23, BRIGGS, TX - Destination: TX23, Briggs, TX - Airport: TX23, Flf, runway 16, 4,500 × 300 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review January 21, 2002; seat: center; flight hours: 1,366 total, 21 in this make and model, 1,334 as pilot in command, 23 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 95 °F ## 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 20020721016939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020721016939A), Jul 21, 2002: Sphrth NIMBUS2C, Briggs, TX, Substantial damage. (.19) On July 21, 2002, approximately 1730 central daylight time, a schempp-hirth k.g. nimbus-2C glider, N141SF, was substantially damaged during the landing… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 3, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55328. 501 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 501 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40463529&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.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.