# NTSB FTW84LA339: Schleicher ASW12, N6135, Georgetown, TX, August 4, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 4, 1984, 15:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place: Georgetown, TX
- Coordinates: 30.640962, -97.680541 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.6410&lon=-97.6805&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 21420
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW84LA339
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/21420/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW84LA339

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight encounter with weather, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - weather condition - high wind (contributing factor)
- Altitude deviation,uncontrolled, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - weather condition - downdraft (cause)
- In flight collision with object, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - object - tree(s)
  - proper glidepath - not possible, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - 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](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6135-2018-03-14), registration cancelled 2018-03-14, S/N 12009 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SCHLEICHER ASW12
- Registry model: [Schleicher AS-W12](https://openairdocs.org/model/schleicher-as-w12) (registry code 38015HR) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Glider
- Serial number: 12009
- Airframe hours: 714
- Engines: 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

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 77; 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19840804037959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840804037959A), Aug 4, 1984: Schler ASW12, Georgetown, TX, Destroyed. Glider crashed into trees on final approach. Witnesses reported severe gust preceeding passage of storm cell.

## Other investigations on N6135 (1)

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.

- [NTSB LAX90DUQ03](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX90DUQ03), Sep 22, 1990: Schleicher ASW-12 (N6135), California City, CA, destroyed. Probable cause: AN INFLIGHT LOSS OF CONTROL DUE TO A DISCONNECTED ELEVATOR CONTROL SURFACE AND AN IMPROPER PREFLIGHT INSPECTION OF THE FLIGHT CONTROLS BY THE GLIDER PILOT.

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.

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