FTW84LA339

NTSB accident investigation · Schleicher ASW12 · Georgetown, TX · August 4, 1984

Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal report

Date: August 4, 1984, 15:30 local (20:30 UTC)
Place: Georgetown, TX
Injuries: 1 minor
Damage: Destroyed
Phase of flight: Approach
Aircraft: N6135Schleicher ASW12
Weather: Visual (VMC) · Day
Status: Completed
Report: Approved by Office Director
FAA report: 19840804037959A
Case key: 21420

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

In flight encounter with weatherApproach - vfr pattern - final approach

Weather condition - high windFactor

Altitude deviation,uncontrolledApproach - vfr pattern - final approach

Weather condition - downdraftCause

In flight collision with objectApproach - vfr pattern - final approach

Object - tree(s)

Proper glidepath - not possiblePilot in commandFactor

In flight collision with terrain/waterDescent - uncontrolled

Analysis

On final apch the plt encountered a 20 to 40 mph gust & subsequent 600 fpm downdrafts. Unable to reach the clear zone atthe apch end of the rwy. The plt attempted to stall into a tree but caught the left wing and slid down the side of the tree impacting the ground vertically.

Aircraft

Registration: N6135
Reported as: Schleicher ASW12
Category: Glider
Serial number: 12009
Airframe hours: 714
Engine: unknown
Damage: Destroyed
Flight: Personal · Part 91
Registered owner: F. F. Bates & E. F. Ross
Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
Last inspection: Annual · May 11, 1984 · 50 hours before

N6135Registration cancelled Mar 14, 2018 · Schleicher AS-W12S/N 12009 Airframe modelSchleicher AS-W12

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role: Pilot
Age: 77
Certificates: Flight instructor, Commercial, Airline transport
Airplane ratings: Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings: Airplane
Seat: Center
Flight hours: 23,530 total · 149 in this make and model · 23,530 as pilot in command · 30 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions: Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind: 150° at 16 knots, gusting 22
Visibility: 20 statute miles
Lowest ceiling: None
Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 66 °F
Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Observed at: AUS, 24 nm away

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.

Accident 19840804037959ASchler ASW12 · Georgetown, TXGlider crashed into trees on final approach. Witnesses reported severe gust preceeding passage of storm cell.Aug 4, 1984 · N6135 · Destroyed

Other investigations on N6135 · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

NTSB LAX90DUQ03Accident · Serious injuriesFinal reportCalifornia City, CAAn inflight loss of control due to a disconnected elevator control surface and an improper preflight inspection of the flight controls by the glider pilot.Sep 22, 1990 · Destroyed