# NTSB GAA18CA314: Schleicher ASW, N428US, Nephi, UT, May 30, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 30, 2018, 14:15 local (20:15 UTC) - Place: Nephi, UT - Coordinates: 39.711666, -111.89167 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7117&lon=-111.8917&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Abrupt maneuver](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 5, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 97372 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA314 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97372/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97372 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA314 ## Probable cause The glider’s encounter with atmospheric conditions where the lift was not sufficient to maintain flight, which resulted in a hard off-airport landing. ## 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: [Schleicher ASW-20C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031040/cases.md?model=3801502), [All aircraft, 53 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031040/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: ground equipment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022050): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Schleicher ASW-20C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022050/cases.md?model=3801502), [All aircraft, 52 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022050/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500); cases with it: [Schleicher ASW-20C, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md?model=3801502), [All aircraft, 252 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md) - [Landing: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Schleicher ASW-20C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=3801502), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Schleicher ASW-20C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=3801502), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Abrupt maneuver](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270) (defining event); cases with it: [Schleicher ASW-20C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md?model=3801502), [All aircraft, 346 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md) - [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Schleicher ASW-20C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=3801502), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The glider pilot reported that, while en route on a local flight, the "lift died," and he decided to return to the departure airport. He was about 3 to 4 miles from the airport when the glider experienced a "moderate to severe sink," and he decided to set up to land in a nearby field. He added that, about 200 ft above the ground, the glider encountered a strong updraft that lasted between 15 and 30 seconds, and "even with full spoilers, it was obvious [he] would not be able to land." He stowed the spoilers, pitched up slightly, and focused on another landing site. The pilot further reported that, during touchdown at the alternate landing site, he noticed there were "sprinkler pipes and wheels." He added, "it looked like [he] would still hit the sprinkler pipes," so to avoid the industrial farm sprinklers ahead, the pilot abruptly pitched the nose down and landed hard on the field. The glider sustained substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the glider that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot of the glider reported that, while enroute on a local flight, the "lift died" and he decided to return to the departure airport. He was about 3-4 miles from the airport when the glider experienced a "moderate to severe sink" and decided to set up to land in a nearby field. At approximately 200 ft. above the ground, the glider encountered a strong updraft that lasted 15-30 seconds, and "even with full spoilers, it was obvious [he] would not be able to land". He stowed the spoilers, pitched up slightly and focused on another landing site. The pilot further reported, that during touchdown at the alternate landing site, he noticed there were "sprinkler pipes and wheels". He added, "it looked like [he] would still hit the sprinkler pipes", so, to avoid the industrial farm sprinklers ahead, the pilot abruptly pitched the nose down and landed hard on the field. The glider sustained substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the glider that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N428US](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N428US-2021-09-04), registration cancelled 2021-09-04, S/N 20628, built 1983 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SCHLEICHER ASW (20C) - Registry model: [Schleicher ASW-20C](https://openairdocs.org/model/schleicher-asw-20c) (registry code 3801502) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider - Serial number: 20628 - Year built: 1983 - Airframe hours: 1600 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, May 28, 2017 - Departed: U14, NEPHI, UT - Destination: U14, NEPHI, UT - Airport: U14, Nephi Muni, runway 17, 6,300 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Handheld GPS, Satellite tracking device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: minor; airline transport, flight engineer, commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; seat: single; flight hours: 13,800 total, 100 in this make and model, 5,100 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 23,000 ft broken - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 41 °F - Altimeter: 29.82 inHg - Observed at: KPVU, 31 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 20180530006359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180530006359A), May 30, 2018: Schleicher SCHLER-ASW20C, Nephi, UT, Destroyed. Pilot experienced downdrafts trying to return to airport and decided to land in a field. On final the pilot reported there were irrigation pipes in the way… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 26, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97372. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40466932&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40466933&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo-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.