# NTSB FTW95LA326: Glasflugel Standard Libelle, N2972, Red River, NM, July 24, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 24, 1995, 14:20 local (20:20 UTC) - Place: Red River, NM - Coordinates: 36.700126, -105.400169 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.7001&lon=-105.4002&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 19, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19522 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW95LA326 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19522/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW95LA326 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S LACK OF COMPENSATION FOR THE TAILWIND AND HIS ENSUING FAILURE TO ATTAIN THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT. FACTORS WERE THE LACK OF THERMAL LIFT AND THE TAILWIND. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, maneuvering - weather condition - no thermal lift (contributing factor) - precautionary landing - initiated, pilot in command - Overrun, landing - roll - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - proper touchdown point - not attained, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - intentional, pilot in command ## Analysis WHILE SOARING OVER A CANYON, THE GLIDER ENCOUNTERED AN 'ATMOSPHERIC CONDITION OF SINK' AND THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE ANY THERMAL ACTIVITY. HE DECIDED TO 'LAND OUT IN DIFFICULT TERRAIN' AND SELECTED THE 'SINGLE' AVAILABLE SITE, A MEADOW 'LESS THAN 1/4 MILE' LONG. 'CANYON NARROWNESS' REQUIRED A 'STEEP 180 DEGREE TURN TO FINAL WITH 5 TO 8 KNOTS EXTRA APPROACH SPEED.' 'FLOAT CARRIED THE GLIDER' TO A TOUCHDOWN AT THE MEADOW'S 'MID-POINT' AND THE PILOT INITIATED A GROUND LOOP 'TO STOP.' AFTER EXITING THE GLIDER, THE PILOT REALIZED HE HAD LANDED WITH A TAILWIND OF '5+ KNOTS.' ## Factual narrative On July 24, 1995, at 1420 mountain daylight time, a Glasflugel Standard Libelle glider, N2972, was substantially damaged during landing near Red River, New Mexico. The private pilot/operator was not injured. The glider departed Taos, New Mexico, at 1215 for the personal flight conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The following information was reported by the pilot in the attached Pilot/Operator Report. The glider was "over canyon near Red River" when an "atmospheric condition of sink" was encountered. The pilot "explored for," but was unable to locate, any "lift/thermal activity." A "decision to plan for land out in difficult terrain was made" and the pilot selected the "single" available landing site, a "horse meadow" with a "usable" landing length of "less than 1/4 mile." "Canyon narrowness" required a "steep 180 degree turn to final with 5 to 8 knots extra approach speed." "Float carried the glider to mid-point of meadow" and a "ground loop to left" was "initiated on touchdown to stop." After exiting the glider, the pilot noticed a "breeze 5+ knots up valley" which had resulted in a "tailwind component" during the landing. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the glider and reported the empennage was partially severed. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2972](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2972), registered now, S/N 282, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: GLASFLUGEL STANDARD LIBELLE (STANDARD L) - Registry model: [Glasflugel STANDARD LIBELLE](https://openairdocs.org/model/glasflugel-standard-libelle) (registry code 3800341) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider - Serial number: 282 - Airframe hours: 1470 - Engines: unknown - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: David A. Paul - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 15, 1995, 24 hours before - Departed: SKX, TAOS, NM ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 535 total, 110 in this make and model, 472 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 10 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °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 19950724022779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950724022779A), Jul 24, 1995: Glasfl LIBELLE, Red River, NM, Substantial damage. Downdrafts soaring over a canyon. Elected land small field. Ground looped to avoid overrun. Had landed downwind 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.